Parenting by mothers from marginalized communities and the role of socioeconomic disadvantage: insights from marginalized Roma communities in Slovakia.

Background: Roma living in marginalized communities often face poor living conditions and material deprivation, which may negatively impact parenting. Our aim is to compare the parenting behavior (support, harsh discipline, and stimulation) of mothers from marginalized Roma communities and the majority population in Slovakia. We also examine the role of socioeconomic disadvantage and related worries in the differences in parenting behavior between these groups. Methods: We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers of children aged 14-18 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study dataset. Two groups were included in the sample: 93 mothers from MRCs and 102 mothers from the majority. We performed multiple regression and mediation analyses to assess whether the educational level of mothers, the degree of poverty, and poverty-related feelings of stress and worries explain parenting behavior differences between the groups of mothers. Results: We found significant differences in parenting, especially in harsh disciplining and stimulation. These two domains were significantly associated with maternal education, degree of poverty, and poverty-related stress and worries. The degree of poverty partially mediated stimulation differences between the two groups of mothers. Conclusion: Parenting in MRCs seems harsher and less stimulative than parenting in the Slovak majority. These differences are associated with the socioeconomic disadvantage of mothers. The degree of poverty partially explains why parenting in MRCs is less stimulative. These results may inform intervention efforts aimed at disadvantaged families.

TB index case tracing in the Roma community in the Czech Republic.

Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing and TB preventive treatment are key tools in preventing the transmission of TB with the aim of eliminating the disease. Our study seeks to demonstrate how the infection spread from an individual patient to the entire community and how proactive contact tracing facilitated prompt diagnosis and treatment. Our work was conducted as a retrospective analysis of the spread of TB infection within the Roma community in the Czech Republic, following the case of an index patient who succumbed to pulmonary TB. Several levels of care and preventive and treatment measures are outlined. Confirming the identity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain was achieved using molecular methods. Among the 39 individuals examined, TB disease was detected in eight patients and TB infection was detected in six patients. The investigation of contacts within this group yielded positive results in 36% of cases, necessitating treatment. The study's findings provide evidence that actively tracing individuals at risk can lead to early detection of cases, prompt treatment, and prevention of further disease transmission. The study also indicates that the highest risk of infection occurs within the sick person's household and that young children under the age of 5 are most susceptible to falling ill.

El Servicio de Mediación de Salud Pública con la Comunidad Gitana en la Comunidad de Madrid / The public health mediation service with the Roma community in the community of Madrid

El pueblo gitano presenta desigualdades sociales que generan peores resultados en salud que el conjunto de la población española. Se describe el proceso de creación del Servicio de Mediación de Salud Pública con la Comunidad Gitana, pionero en la Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid, mostrando sus competencias dirigidas a disminuir dichas desigualdades. Los resultados de su trabajo, enmarcado en la praxis de la mediación intercultural y la intervención comunitaria, validan la necesidad de contar con profesionales de la mediación intercultural en salud pública. (AU)

The Roma people have social inequalities that lead to worse health outcomes than the Spanish population as a whole. We report the process to create the Public Health Mediation Service with the Roma Community, pioneer in the Community of Madrid Health Department. We also reveal its competences aimed at reducing said inequalities. The results of its work, framed in the practice of intercultural mediation and community intervention, validate the need for intercultural mediation professionals in the field of public health. (AU)

La población gitana tiene miedos sobre la donación de órganos propios para trasplante / The Roma population's fear of donating their own organs for transplantation

Introducción: La tasa de negativas a la donación entre el pueblo gitano es muy superior a la de cualquier otro grupo social. Objetivo: Analizar la actitud hacia la donación de los órganos propios entre la población gitana residente en España. Métodos: Tipo de estudio: estudio sociológico observacional nacional español estratificado por género y edad. Población a estudio: población gitana con edad≥15 años residente en España. Tamaño muestral: 1.253 encuestados. Instrumento de valoración: cuestionario validado de actitud hacia la donación de órganos para trasplante PCID-DTO Ríos. Trabajo de campo: selección aleatoria en función de la estratificación. Cumplimentación anónima y autoadministrada. Fue precisa la colaboración de personas de etnia gitana. Estadística: test de t de Student, χ2, Fisher y un análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: El grado de cumplimentación fue del 18,2% (n=228). De los que han cumplimentado el cuestionario, están a favor de la donación el 42,1% (n=96), indeciso el 30,3% (n=69) y en contra el 27,6% restante (n=63). De los 1.025 (81,8%) que rechazaron cumplimentar el cuestionario, 1.004 (98%) indicaron que era por miedo a hablar y rellenar un cuestionario que plantee el tema de la muerte y la donación de órganos tras fallecer. Si se considera que los que no han cumplimentado el cuestionario por miedo a la muerte y la donación de órganos tras fallecer no están a favor, los resultados serían los siguientes: el 7,8% (n=96) a favor de donar sus órganos frente al 92,2% (n=1.136) no a favor (en contra o indecisos). Conclusiones: La población gitana presenta un rechazo mayoritario a plantear el tema de la muerte y la donación de órganos tras fallecer. Estos hallazgos muestran que las campañas actuales para promover la donación de órganos no son efectivas en este grupo de población. (AU)

Introduction: The refusal rate for donating organs among the Roma people is much higher than that of any other social group. Objective: To analyze the attitude towards the donation of one's own organs among the Roma population living in Spain. Methods: Type of study: Spanish national observational sociological study stratified by gender and age. Study population: Roma population aged≥15 years living in Spain. Sample size: 1253 respondents. Assessment instrument: validated questionnaire on attitude towards organ donation for transplantation PCID-DTO Ríos. Field work: random selection based on stratification. Anonymous and self-administered completion. The collaboration of people of Roma ethnicity was required. Statistics: Student's t test, χ2, Fisher's exact test and a logistic regression analysis. Results: The degree of completion was 18.2% (n=228). Of those who completed the questionnaire, 42.1% (n=96) were in favor of donation, 30.3% (n=69) were undecided and the remaining 27.6% (n=63) were against it. Of the 1025 (81.8%) who declined to complete the questionnaire, 1004 (98%) indicated that it was for fear of speaking about and filling in a questionnaire that raises the issue of death and organ donation after death. If those who did not complete the questionnaire due to fear of death and donating organs after death are considered not in favor, the results would be as follows: 7.8% (n=96) in favor of donating their organs compared to 92.2% (n=1136) not in favor (against or undecided). Conclusions: A majority of the Roma population prefer not speak of death nor organ donation after death. These findings show that current campaigns to promote organ donation are not effective in this population group. (AU)

The Roma population's fear of donating their own organs for transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The refusal rate for donating organs among the Roma people is much higher than that of any other social group. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the attitude towards the donation of one's own organs among the Roma population living in Spain. METHOD: . TYPE OF STUDY: Spanish national observational sociological study stratified by gender and age. STUDY POPULATION: Roma population aged ≥15 years living in Spain. SAMPLE SIZE: 1,253 respondents. Assessment instrument: Validated questionnaire on attitude towards organ donation for transplantation "PCID - DTO Ríos". Field work: Random selection based on stratification. Anonymous and self-administered completion. The collaboration of people of Roma ethnicity was required. STATISTICS: Student's t test, χ2, Fisher's exact test and a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The degree of completion was 18.2% (n = 228). Of those who completed the questionnaire, 42.1% (n = 96) were in favor of donation, 30.3% (n = 69) were undecided and the remaining 27.6% (n = 63) were against it. Of the 1,025 (81.8%) who declined to complete the questionnaire, 1,004 (98%) indicated that it was for fear of speaking about and filling in a questionnaire that raises the issue of death and organ donation after death. If those who did not complete the questionnaire due to fear of death and donating organs after death are considered not in favor, the results would be as follows: 7.8% (n = 96) in favor of donating their organs compared to 92.2% (n = 1166) not in favor (against or undecided). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of the Roma population prefer not speak of death nor organ donation after death. These findings show that current campaigns to promote organ donation are not effective in this population group.

Connecting Roma Communities in COVID-19 Times: The First Roma Women Students' Gathering Held Online.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the vulnerability of the Roma communities in Europe. However, these communities have a strong sense of resilience, and the role of Roma women must be highlighted since they have historically nurtured solidarity networks even in the most challenging situations. AIM: A particular action organized by a Roma Association of Women is analyzed: the Roma Women Students' Gathering (RWSG, or gathering). In its 19th edition, this democratic space aimed at tackling the challenges the pandemic has raised and its impact on the Roma communities. METHOD: The 19th RWSG, which was the first one held online, was inductively analyzed to gain a deeper understanding of the key aspects that the Roma women highlight when they organize themselves. RESULTS: RWSG generates optimal conditions where Roma women identify the challenges affecting their community and, drawing on the dialogues shared, agree on strategies to contest them. RWSG also enhanced solidarity interactions that enabled the conquering of the virtual space, transforming it into an additional space where the Roma could help each other and thus better navigate the uncertainties unleashed by COVID-19. Key features of the Roma culture emerged in these spaces of solidarity, such as protecting the elderly and prioritizing community wellbeing rather than only the individual's preferences. CONCLUSIONS: Roma women play a key role in weaving an organized response to the uncertainty derived from COVID-19, and connecting them to the public sphere, potentially achieving social and political impacts.

Substance use in Roma population in contact with social workers in the Czech Republic: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

An increasing number of studies have focused on the topic of Roma communities and social exclusion in the Czech Republic, however, substance use has been surveyed only marginally. This paper brings new data on the patterns of substance use among Roma population in contact with social workers (546 respondents). Substance use, including daily smoking and regular excessive alcohol drinking, has been 2-6 times higher among Roma compared to the general population. Current illicit substance use was reported by 1/3 of the respondents (46.7% of males, 17.8% of females) with cannabis (27.1%) and methamphetamine (11.9%) being the most reported substances.

Influences on childhood immunisation decision-making in London's Gypsy and Traveller communities.

AIMS: Uptake of childhood immunisations is lower among Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities than in the general UK population. This small-scale study aimed to elicit insights from GRT mothers on their interaction with health services in London around childhood immunisations. The purpose was to inform a larger piece of work by the NHS England and Improvement (London) Public Health Commissioning Team to inform their planning to improve access to vaccination services for GRT communities in London. STUDY DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and a focus group. METHODS: There was purposive sampling of mothers from any GRT background from south-west London using snowballing methods. One focus group and three interviews were conducted. A thematic analysis approach was used. RESULTS: A total of nine women were recruited and seven participated between March and April 2018. Five themes were identified: adherence with antenatal care, self-declared parenting expertise, family support, childhood immunisations, keep children healthy but 'they say wait on the MMR until they are talking'. CONCLUSION: Compliance with antenatal care, strong parenting beliefs and cohesive family support are strong influences on decision-making regarding immunisations. The women interviewed emphasised their own expertise in child rearing. This was occasionally at odds with the health advice provided by health professionals. The women widely shared their experiences of health professionals with other family and community members and this impacted on others' intention to vaccinate. These are key issues that should be considered when trying to improve uptake of immunisations in GRT families in a face-to-face manner. Equally, it warrants further exploration in a larger-scale study to see whether this reflects the wider community and in order to tailor supplementary immunisation activities to improve uptake.

Measles outbreak in a French Roma community in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France, May to July 2017.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse a measles outbreak in a Roma community. METHODS: We describe a community-wide outbreak of genotype D8 measles that took place in southeastern France, between May and July 2017, along with the control measures adopted. RESULTS: We identified a total of eighteen cases, between six months and 24 years old. All cases were unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated and belonged to a sedentary French Roma community. Most of them (67%) were hospitalised, with three cases (17%) of severe measles including one death of a 16-year-old girl who had previously received oral corticosteroids. The latter was the only lethal case notified in France during the year 2017. Control measures included intensification of surveillance, isolation of cases, and a large vaccination campaign in this Roma community. During the outbreak period, there was no case of healthcare-associated measles transmission. A broad adherence to vaccination through the mediating role of both the chief of the community and the pastor allowed reaching completed vaccination coverage of 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts should be concentrated to enhance access to health services for minorities such as the Roma community characterized by low vaccination coverage. A trustful relationship with leaders of the community is essential to ensure adherence to vaccination. In France, attributable mortality to measles is low and concerns mainly unvaccinated and immunodepressed patients.

Resource recovery from waste by Roma in the Balkans: A case study from Zavidovici (BiH).

Roma communities represent the main involved actors in the informal activities in the Balkan regions, especially because the state does not formally recognize them as formal inhabitants. The Roma community in Zavidovici, despite being resident since the beginning of the 20th century, is still considered a marginalized and vulnerable group. They are actively involved in and dependent on the informal solid waste sector. Waste collection is a 'family business', a kind of self-employment and the main source of income for households. Informal recyclers have a central role in the solid waste management system and they recover a significant amount of materials, especially iron, copper, brass, lead and exhausted batteries. Despite the negative fluctuations of the raw material prices, because of the international economic crisis, informal recyclers remain dependent on the waste recycling sector. They are crucial actors in the value chain of recyclables: though they cannot access the final buyers of recyclables, they provide more than 50% of the market to the middle dealers in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. This research activity consists of a deep socio-economic analysis of the informal recyclers' community living in Zavidovici city. In particular, this paper describes the composition and welfare status of informal recyclers' households, the role of informal recyclers in waste collection, the geographical coverage and the related pattern of waste picking, types, volumes and price fluctuations of recyclable materials, and the middle dealers involved in the informal recycling system.