Service user engagement by ethnicity groups at a children’s gender identity service in the UK

Abstract

Objectives Gender service utilisation according to ethnicity is largely under-researched. The present research looked at demographics and service user-engagement according to ethnicity of young people accessing a gender service for children. Method A total of 2063 ( M = 14.19 years, SD = 2.59, assigned male = 556, 1495 assigned female = 1495, no-specification=12) referrals were included in the analysis. Self-defined ethnicity in financial years (FY) 2016–2017, 2018–2019, and referrer-defined ethnicity in FY 2020–2021 were compared between years, to the national UK-population, and child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) averages. Numbers of offered, attended and non-attended appointments were compared across the White and the ethnic minority population (EMP). Results Across years 93.35% young people identified as White (higher than the CAMHS and national population averages); 6.65% as EMP. Service utilisation was similar in FY 2016–2017. In FY 2018–2019, the EMP subgroup was offered and attended more appointments compared to the White subgroup, ‘did not attended’ average was similar. Conclusions The majority of young people self-identified with a White ethnic-background. Service engagement was comparable between the EMP and White ethnicity subgroups in 2016–2017, while the EMP group was offered and attended more appointments in 2018–2019. Due to the low EMP group numbers, findings need to be interpreted with caution.