Race to address sexual health inequalities among people of Black Caribbean heritage: Could co-production lead to more culturally-appropriate guidance and practice

People of Black Caribbean heritage in the UK experience a disproportionate burden of STIs. This has persisted for decades. Notably, rates of diagnosed chlamydia and gonorrhoea in England among those of Black Caribbean ethnicity were over five times and nearly six times higher, respectively, compared with rates among White ethnic groups, in 2021. Such health inequalities are widely recognised among racially minoritised communities; for example, the highest COVID-19 mortality rates were observed among non-White racial groups. Generally, poverty contributes to poorer health outcomes, and people of Black Caribbean heritage are among the ethnic groups most likely to live in the most socioeconomically deprived areas of England. Even when controlling for deprivation, Black Caribbeans still experience disproportionately high STI diagnosis rates compared with other ethnic groups. Research by, with and for these communities can help our sector take more informed action to address disparities.

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