Selected parameters of social exclusion among immigrants in the Czech Republic.

This article deals with the issue of social exclusion of immigrants in the Czech Republic. A review of expert sources indicates that immigrants are most often excluded from the labour market, housing market, and in communication with institutions. These areas became the target of our research. We observed how they were affect by knowledge of the Czech language, length of residence and type of work performed. The study was conducted using quantitative research strategies, interviews, and a questionnaire, the clarity of which was ensured by a double translation. The research group consisted of immigrants, namely Vietnamese, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish nationalities, living in selected regions of the Czech Republic. Results showed that there were statistically significant differences among the immigrant groups. The Vietnamese were least satisfied with housing conditions; they often reported living in overcrowded apartments and dormitories, and saw little chance of changing their situation because of discrimination by landlords. With regard to Czech language skills, the greater difference between Czech and Vietnamese and the relative similarity between Czech and the other studied immigrant languages also played a role. As a result, this indicator also showed the greatest dissatisfaction among the Vietnamese. For employees, poor knowledge of Czech corresponds to lower socioeconomic status.

Selected areas of health and health care utilization by immigrants living in the Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation examined to what extent a selected group of immigrants in the Czech Republic receive healthcare for primary prevention and inpatient care. A partial aim of the research was to confirm the connection between immigrant health and their social situation. METHODS: Using a quantitative study technique, 1,014 legally established immigrants (Vietnamese, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, and Slovak) between 18-65 years of age were interviewed. The selection of respondents was conducted using purposive selection. The stratification of the group was determined by nationality, age, and gender. RESULTS: Long-term illnesses were found significantly more frequently among Ukrainian immigrants and less frequently among Vietnamese immigrants. About half of the respondents had visited a GP and dentist in the previous year and 11.5% of respondents had been hospitalized in inpatient departments. Most of the surveyed immigrants had public health insurance (77.9%), one-fifth had contractual health insurance (19.6%) and 2.5% did not have health insurance. In statistical terms, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Russian immigrants had commercial insurance more often than Polish and Slovak immigrants. The utilization of public health insurance and healthcare among immigrants grew significantly in correlation with length of residency. The use of GPs for preventive health care also grew in correlation with knowledge of the Czech language. We found that less than nine percent of immigrants reported needing hospitalization for an illness, but were not hospitalized. CONCLUSION: Currently, immigration represents one of the most burning and sensitive global challenges. The outcome of this research clearly shows that improving immigrant Czech language skills and giving all legally established immigrants access to Czech public health insurance are important steps needed to increase access to healthcare for immigrants in the Czech Republic.

Hegemony in the Roma family.

This article is intended to describe the current hegemonic masculinity within the Roma family structure in the Czech Republic, with regard to changes related to developments in the majority society and the current socioeconomic situation of the Roma. The theoretical context of this article is based on the paradigm of masculine hegemony as it exists and has existed in the Roma families. Data for the study came from semi-structured interviews with 30 Roma females and 30 Roma males living as couples, in three Czech cities. The main finding reveals a dichotomy between the traditional roles of Roma women, i.e. care for the family and the household, and the present functions, i.e. contributing to the family income through social benefits. We observed a decline in the traditional role of Roma men, who were often unemployed. We related the change in the roles of men to the "non-functionality of the men", contributing to the emerging potential for emancipation of Roma women. However, the traditional patriarchal Roma family is structured such that men are given the main decision making powers, which has slowed changes in marginalized Roma families. Additionally, social pressures against women as well as socially conditioned pressures that act to preserve hegemonic masculinity, have largely prevented the realization of the potential for emancipation of Roma women, or if a woman tries to leave her non-functioning husband.

Evaluation of selected indicators of overweight and obesity of Roma minority in the region of South Bohemia.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of our correlation study was to compare selected indicators of overweight and obesity of Roma and non-Roma (majority) populations in the South Bohemia Region or the Czech Republic. METHODS: The following indicators were chosen for evaluation of overweight and obesity: body height and weight, waistline measurement, waist/height index, waist/hips index, BMI, total fat and blood pressure. 600 participants were examined and interviewed in total, including 302 Roma and 298 non-Roma participants. Each of the participants had a personal examination performed by a general nurse, under hygienic-epidemiological conditions. The criteria for inclusion of participants into the study were consent with examination and age greater than 18 years. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed that, at a level of significance of p < 0.001, the following values differed between the Roma and non-Roma population of the South Bohemia Region: waist/height index, waistline, total fat, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Differences in the incidence of the waist/hips index were significant at p < 0.01. Correlations of incidence with indicators of overweight and obesity in Roma were registered in relation to both age and gender of participants. The results show that overweight and obesity indicators were recorded more frequently in Roma female respondents. Although the results are unique, the conclusions cannot be generalized for Roma throughout the Czech Republic. CONCLUSION: The conclusions of the above findings will be implemented in strategic materials for community planning in the South Bohemia Region. The goal will be to offer services aimed at supporting a healthy life style for Roma living in the South Bohemia Region of the Czech Republic.

Factors influencing psychological status and quality of life in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Various mental and social problems can negatively impact the quality of life and overall health in patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD). In this report, we review and summarize the main studies and research related to this topic. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, stress and post-traumatic stress are the most common symptoms of ICD-related disorders that can negatively impact mental status. Factors than can influence the impact of these psychological disorders include socio-demographic variables (younger age, gender, and employment), variables related to the ICD (number of ICD shocks, generator size, time from ICD implant, etc.) and psycho-social variables (negative coping strategies, lack of social support and personality type). Fortunately, these disorders, and their symptoms, can be prevented, treated or managed, if recognized.

Item Analysis of the Czech Version of the WJ IV COG Battery from a Group of Romani Children.

The objective of the article is to present an item analysis of selected subtests of the Czech version of the WJ IV COG battery from a group of Romani children, ages 7-11. The research sample consisted of 400 school-aged Romani children from the Czech Republic who were selected by quota sampling. A partial comparative sample for the analysis was the Czech population collected as norms of the Czech edition of © Propsyco (n = 936). The Woodcock-Johnson IV COG was used as a research tool. Statistical analysis was performed in Winstep software using Differential Item Functioning; differences between groups were expressed in logits and tested via the Rasch-Welch T-test. It was discovered that higher item difficulty was noted in the verbal subtests, although variability in item difficulty was found across all subtests. The analysis of individual items makes it possible to discover which tasks are most culturally influenced.

Changes in Cognition and Hemodynamics 1 Year after Carotid Endarterectomy for Asymptomatic Stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of a change in hemodynamics on cognitive skills in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of CEA for ACS at 1 year by assessing the changes in anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral artery blood flow in tandem with changes in cognitive efficiency. METHODS: Flow volume in cerebral arteries using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography was measured in a group of 14 males and 5 females before and at 1 year after CEA for ACS. Cognitive efficiency was assessed by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The values of flow volume were processed using simple ratio (SR) and were used for covariance analyses with changes in cognitive skills after CEA. RESULTS: A significant improvement in cognitive efficiency indexes of immediate memory and visuospatial perception at 1 year after CEA for ACS was observed. Simultaneously, a significant deterioration of speech index was noted. During the analysis of association between flow and cognition, the highest correlation could be seen between the middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow and the visuospatial perception. A change in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) flow was associated with an increase in immediate memory index and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) flow change with the speech index. CONCLUSION: Convergence of data supporting the association between revascularization and cognitive improvement were added in a small, single-center cohort of ACS patients undergoing CEA. No significant differences in cognition were seen between preoperative findings and at 1 year after CEA. Visuospatial perception improvement was linked to flow change in MCA, immediate memory improvement to flow change in PCA, and speech index change to flow change in ACA. Methodical limitations of this small study preclude formulating larger generalizations. Hemodynamic factors in CEA should be assessed in a larger-scale study.

Qualification of Food Intake by the Roma Population in the Region of South Bohemia.

The article presents the results of a correlation study, aimed at quantifying the food intake of the Roma population in the South Bohemian Region. To achieve the goal, we applied the method of one-day dietary recall and frequency food analysis (non-standardized). The quantification was carried out by analysis in the Nutridan program. The study involved 302 Roma persons and 298 persons in the control group. Both groups had the same representation of males and females (50:50). The age categories of both sets differed; the average age of the Roma was lower (39.2 years) (p < 0.001). The probands from the Roma population were chosen with the help of the snowball method through known respondents. The statistical analysis shows differences in nutritional estimate between the Roma population and the control sample. The Roma differ in their energy intake. Both groups showed lower intake of sugars, below 50% total energy intake (TEI) and higher intake of fats, above 30% TEI. The respondents from both groups consume little fruits and vegetables, which may be connected with their low dietary fiber intake. In addition to the differences in the nutritional estimates, we recorded statistically significant differences in body mass index (BMI; p < 0.001), in age (p < 0.001), regular alimentation (p = 0) and demanding physical activities (p = 0). In spite of the fact our groups differed in age (the Roma are younger), it can be assumed that the obesity of the Roma may be caused by unbalanced alimentation and lack of physical activities.

Cultural Features Influencing Eating, Overweight, and Obesity in the Roma People of South Bohemia.

This article describes the important cultural specifics that impact on treatment of overweight and obesity for the Roma people of South Bohemia. METHODS: Data on health and nutrition were collected using a semi-structured interview of 302 Roma adults (quantitative phase). A further 25 participants received in-depth interviews regarding their eating and lifestyle habits and perceptions about obesity and overweight (qualitative phase). Height and weight were measured with calibrated scales and stadiometer. Qualitative data were analyzed with the “grounded theory” method. RESULTS: The participants reported a relatively high consumption of high-sugar drinks and foods compared to fruits and vegetables. Lifestyle factors increasing risk of overweight identified from the qualitative interview included unemployment, socially isolating housing, poor transport, poverty, inactivity, tobacco smoking, and for women weight gain after childbirth. Also identified was the need for better health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Effective health education may help to address risk factors for overweight and obesity in Roma peoples. Other measures include improved socioeconomic status and housing security, and improved health literacy of the Roma people.