Dementia in the Bangladeshi diaspora in England: a qualitative study of the myths and stigmas about dementia

Rationale, aims, and objectives: Although Bangladeshis are three times more likely to be carers than White British, Bangladeshi family carers are the most deprived, neglected, and effectively a hidden group in the UK.1 There is a paucity of research within the Bangladeshi community that is capable of explaining and predicting what the experiences and concerns of Bangladeshi family carers providing care for their relatives with dementia. The purpose of this study is to explore the perspectives of Bangladeshi family carers’ knowledge and day-to-day experiences living in England. Methods: Qualitative study involving semi-structured face-to-face interviews with six Bangladeshi family carers living in London and Portsmouth. Interviews were recorded with the consent and transcribed verbatim. Data was managed by using NVivo software and thematic analysis was performed. Results: This paper explores that most carers have a lack of knowledge and awareness of the symptoms of dementia. The results of this study are in contrast to previous studies, where South Asian carers perceived dementia as being possessed by evil spirits or God’s punishment for previous life’s sins, this study reveals Bangladeshi family carers believed dementia was a medical condition. Unlike earlier South Asian studies, however, all family carers in this study also believed there was no stigma attached to dementia. Conclusions: Further research is warranted to investigate the religious beliefs, familism, and interpersonal motives as theoretical perspectives to explain how Bangladeshi family carers negotiate and construct their caregiving roles for their relatives with dementia