OBJECTIVES: We compared the health of people living in Roma settlements with that of the general population in Hungary. METHODS: We performed comparative health interview surveys in 2003 to 2004 in representative samples of the Hungarian population and inhabitants of Roma settlements. RESULTS: In persons older than 44 years, 10% more of those living in Roma settlements reported their health as bad or very bad than did those in the lowest income quartile of the general population. Of those who used any health services, 35% of the Roma inhabitants and 4.4% of the general population experienced some discrimination. In Roma settlements, the proportion of persons who thought that they could do much for their own health was 13% to 15% lower, and heavy smoking and unhealthy diet were 1.5 to 3 times more prevalent, than in the lowest income quartile of the general population. CONCLUSIONS: People living in Roma settlements experience severe social exclusion, which profoundly affects their health. Besides tackling the socioeconomic roots of the poor health of Roma people, specific public health interventions, including health education and health promotion programs, are needed.
OBJECTIVES: We compared the health of people living in Roma settlements with that of the general population in Hungary. METHODS: We performed comparative health interview surveys in 2003 to 2004 in representative samples of the Hungarian population and inhabitants of Roma settlements. RESULTS: In persons older than 44 years, 10% more of those living in Roma settlements reported their health as bad or very bad than did those in the lowest income quartile of the general population. Of those who used any health services, 35% of the Roma inhabitants and 4.4% of the general population experienced some discrimination. In Roma settlements, the proportion of persons who thought that they could do much for their own health was 13% to 15% lower, and heavy smoking and unhealthy diet were 1.5 to 3 times more prevalent, than in the lowest income quartile of the general population. CONCLUSIONS:People living in Roma settlements experience severe social exclusion, which profoundly affects their health. Besides tackling the socioeconomic roots of the poor health of Roma people, specific public health interventions, including health education and health promotion programs, are needed.
Authors: Adriana Sudzinova; Jaroslav Rosenberger; Roy E Stewart; Jitse P van Dijk; Sijmen A Reijneveld Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2015-12-12 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Benjamin Cook; Geoffrey Ferris Wayne; Anne Valentine; Anna Lessios; Ethan Yeh Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2013-10-05 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Zuzana Skodova; Jitse P van Dijk; Iveta Nagyova; Jaroslav Rosenberger; Daniela Ondusova; Martin Studencan; Sijmen A Reijneveld Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2010-05-15 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Pavol Jarcuska; Daniela Bobakova; Jan Uhrin; Ladislav Bobak; Ingrid Babinska; Peter Kolarcik; Zuzana Veselska; Andrea Madarasova Geckova Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2013-04-02 Impact factor: 3.380