Improving the health of ethnically diverse children and young people in minority groups

Sara is 15 and pregnant. The father of her child left to go back to his home country early in the pregnancy. Sara is now 28 weeks pregnant and still at school. She is struggling because of her peers' attitudes toward her and her home circumstances. She lives with four siblings in a three-bedroom semi-detached house in a deprived part of the city. Her parents support her, but money is tight. Meeting her needs is a collaborative effort between midwife, GP, social worker, learning support staff and school nurse. Sara's reading age is 6 and has only just been recognised. She becomes more and more disillusioned with school. Her parents decide to take her back to her home country and outcomes remain uncertain. Sara is part of a minority group whose life outcomes are poor due to their circumstances. She is a victim of profound inequalities which are likely to affect not only her but also her child. Improving her care is the subject of this article.