People with Intellectual Disabilities have a worse oral health status than the general population, with caries and periodontal disease being the most prevalent disorders. Moreover, the poor oral health status of people with Intellectual Disabilities tends to be more severe in Low- and Middle-income countries (LMICs) since, in this setting, the situation of systemic inequity experienced by people with disabilities tends to be deeper. For this reason, a comprehensive understanding of the oral health of people with Intellectual Disabilities is a crucial factor in informing the development of strategies and interventions that address the specific dental care needs of this group, thus promoting their quality of life and overall health. The brief explores the critical challenges of providing oral health care for people with intellectual disabilities and evidence-based recommendations for overcoming these challenges.

People living with disability are at a higher risk of contracting chronic infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to those without disabilities. Furthermore, those with HIV are at higher risk of developing a disability as a result of their condition. Infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis (TB), neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), etc can, like disability, be very stigmatising. Stigma is founded in inequality, power, and systems of domination. It can be intra-personal, such as self-stigmatisation, interpersonal, such as social stigma, and structural, such as institutional stigma. Intersectionality looks at the way different forms of discrimination combine in the experiences of marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities living with chronic infectious diseases. Consequently, this group can face additional societal barriers in their day-to-day lives compared to people with disabilities that don’t have chronic infectious diseases or those that have a chronic infectious disease without a disability. This evidence brief summarises how intersectional stigma for this particularly vulnerable group can be addressed.

People with mental illness have higher disability and mortality rates globally as a result of access gaps between available mental health providers and potential users (WHO, 2013). Between 76% and 85% of people with severe mental illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not have access to mental health care services (WHO, 2013). Stigma is a major barrier to mental health service delivery and can impact care-seeking behaviours. Stigma refers to a set of beliefs and attitudes about people with mental disorders which can create an environment of discrimination on a public, personal and institutional level (e.g. healthcare systems). The fear of discrimination can delay access to care as well as influence poor adherence to treatment and follow-up. This brief highlights effective strategies for eliminating stigma as a barrier to accessing health services for people with mental illness in LMICs.