Health and the Roma community, Analysis of the situation in Europe
Project duration: 1st November 2007 - 31st October 2009
SUMMARY
According to the European Parliament, 12 to 15 million Roma living in Europe suffer racial discrimination and in many cases are subject to severe structural discrimination, poverty and social exclusion (Resolution of 31 January 2008 on a European strategy on the Roma). Inequalities in terms of health care and access to health services are one of the main factors contributing to social exclusion. Their health conditions are not backed by statistics or reliable updated data.
The aim of the project is to obtain reliable and valid data in regard to the health situation of Roma and the use made of and access to health care services. This will allow to identify real needs and to establish suitable priority actions. The recommendations produced by the project will be the base for the development of measures, actions and policies, both on national and European level, aimed at reduction of the inequalities endured by the Roma in health and favouring their social inclusion.
Main outcomes of the project will be data collection and analysis of the health situation of the Roma in the partner countries; action proposals and recommendations drafts; comparison of data between countries, awareness-raising of the main stakeholders in the health area and dissemination of project results.
OBJECTIVES
General objective
Analyze the health situation of the Roma community to tackle health inequalities and design tailored made policies in health area and activities for the target population.
Specific objectives
- Obtain reliable and valid data about the social/health situation of Roma population in each of the partner countries and the use made of health-care resources available for the mainstream society using mainly international health indicators.
- Develop an approximate diagnosis of the social/health situation of the Roma community in each participating country.
- Analyse survey results, identifying health determinants for Roma, developing effective strategies and making recommendations in terms of health policies and health promotion, disease prevention and health monitoring. These will promote more pro-active measures for the improvement of the standing of the Roma community in the social/health domain and likewise for the orientation of the use of resources in each country and at the transnational level.
- Raise awareness of the key political decision-makers, stakeholders, programme developers and members of the Roma community for the need of implementation of measures and strategies designed to improve the current health situation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Diagnosis of the social/health situation of the Roma community in 7 European countries (Spain, Portugal, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria – all with a significant Roma population) based on data collection from a representative sample in each country. A report will be published in each country in its own language.
Action proposal and recommendations targeting stakeholders in the social/health domain (political decision makers, health-care administration and personnel, social entities working in the sphere of health, Roma community). Recommendations will have a specific national focus adapted to each context but will also have a European dimension and will be included in the national reports.
Awareness raising and dissemination actions. Create greater awareness of the social and health conditions of the Roma population and their needs in the largest number of players.
Setting up priority actions in each of the countries involved in order to improve the health situation of the national Roma communities.
METHODOLOGY
Conduct a descriptive study by polling the Roma population, in respect of their health situation and access to social/health resources, in each participating country. A representative sample of Roma will be interviewed via anonymous questionnaires common to all countries. In addition the analysis of the results on the Roma community will be compared with data from the general population and will also be compared at transnational level.
Different variables such as sex, age, Roma cultural group (where applicable), social status, residence, etc. will be taken into account with a view to select a representative sample in each country and experts will be on hand in each country. The aim is to obtain data on illnesses, accidents, limitations on daily activities, medicaments consumption, medical consultation, hospitalization and emergency use, cigarettes and alcohol consumption, lifestyle, nutrition and others.
A group of external experts will monitor the project and will contribute to the implementation of the research, providing consulting services, setting guidelines and criteria to conduct the descriptive study and assisting in the interpretation of the data, received from the survey. Appropriate actions will be recommended that will aim at improvement of the health situation faced by the Roma community in each of the countries involved in the project.
The team of project partners will use the results from each national report to draft a joint report describing the health situation of Roma and will make recommendations of active measures to foster Roma community health throughout Europe.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Spain: FSG (Fundación Secretariado Gitano), www.gitanos.org
Bulgaria: THRPF (The Health of the Romani People Foundation), www.romasite.zlobil.info
Czech Republic: Office of the Council for Roma Affairs Czech Government, www.vlada.cz/en/rvk/rzrk/rzrk.html
Czech Republic: Life together, www.vzajemnesouziti.cz
Greece: Efxini Poli, www.efxini.gr
Portugal: REAPN (Rede Europeia Anti-Pobreza Portugal Associacao), www.reapn.org
Romania: Romani CRISS (Roma Center for Social Intervention and Studies), www.romanicriss.org
Slovakia: PDCS, o.z., Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia
PROJECT FINANCING
“This leaflet arises from the project Health and the Roma Community, analysis of the situation in Europe which has received funding from the European Union, in the framework of the "Public Health Programme".