The health of Romanian Gypsy women in Serbia.

ABSTRACT

Indigenous people are over-represented among the world's disadvantaged; their health is influenced by lack of access to critical resources including health care and by their cultural practices. We report on the health and the health practices of one group of indigenous women, the Roma/Gypsies of northern Serbia who live in poverty, reside in sub-standardized housing in segregated communities, and are poorly educated and stigmatized. We describe the environment in which they live, their health history, and the cultural practices that influence their health and health behaviors, including their sporadic utilization of health services that are provided by the state. We also present evidence supporting that, in the face of adversity, cultural practices, including those related to kinship and social support, can have significant benefits in shaping health status.