Frequency of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Variant in Roma Population.

Aims: The pathogenic variant, p.GLY428Asp (c.1283G-A), in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene causes neonatal inflammatory skin and bowel disease 2, a disorder that is lethal during infancy due to skin infections and sepsis. This variant seems to be restricted to people of Roma origin with the majority of patients thus far reported being from Slovakia or the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of this variant in the Roma population in Slovakia. Methods: A population sample of 1321 unrelated healthy individuals of Roma origin from Slovakia was tested for the p.GLY428Asp variant in EGFR gene by real-time PCR. Results: The carrier frequency in the Roma ethnic group was 2.65%. Conclusions: This is the first report of the frequency of this variant. A high frequency of carriers together with a significant number of patients reported previously proves the p.GLY428Asp variant in the EGFR gene is a major health concern of the Roma populations in Slovakia and neighboring regions.

Building partnerships in education through a story-tool based intervention: Parental involvement experiences among families with Roma backgrounds.

Introduction: School educators are likely to explain the poor educational trajectories of students with Roma backgrounds related to the lack of parental support and interest in children's education. Aiming to understand further the patterns of Roma group's parental involvement in children's school life and their engagement experiences in school-related activities, the current research set an intervention supported by a culturally sensitive story-tool. Method: Grounded in the intervention-based research framework, 12 participants (i.e., mothers) from different Portuguese Roma groups participated in this study. Data was collected through interviews conducted pre-and postintervention. Eight weekly sessions were delivered in the school context, using a story-tool and hands- on activities to generate culturally significant meanings regarding attitudes, beliefs, and values toward children's educational trajectories. Results: Through the lens of acculturation theory, data analysis provided important findings under two overarching topics: patterns of parental involvement in children's school life and participants' engagement in the intervention program. Discussion: Data show the distinct ways Roma parents participate in children's education and the relevance of mainstream contexts providing an atmosphere likely to build collaborative relationships with parents to overcome barriers to parental involvement.

The Welfare of Traveller and Gypsy Owned Horses in the UK and Ireland.

Travellers and Gypsies are recognised ethnic groups in the UK and Ireland. Horse ownership is an important cultural tradition, however, practices associated with poor welfare are often perceived to be linked to these horse owning communities. Despite this, empirical studies on the welfare status of Traveller and Gypsy owned horses are lacking. To determine the welfare status of Traveller and Gypsy owned horses, 104 horses were assessed using a bespoke horse welfare protocol. This protocol assessed animal, resource and management-based measures. In addition, Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) identified horses' emotional state. Results indicated that 81% of horses had an optimal body condition score, with no horse recorded as very thin/fat. The absence of limb conditions (95%), ocular (98%) and nasal (93%) discharges were evident in most horses, and 81% of horses responded positively to the voluntary animal approach test. The most commonly observed welfare issues were hoof neglect (27%), with hoof cracks/breakages (19%) being the most prevalent. QBA indicated that positive emotional states were more commonplace than negative. A relationship between QBA and other horse welfare measures was observed, e.g., improved mood was associated with better water availability. This research provides novel data in the under-researched area of the welfare of Traveller and Gypsy owned horses and counters perceptions of a poor welfare state in this group of horses.

Are Roma People Descended from the Punjab Region of Pakistan: A Y-Chromosomal Perspective.

Gypsies are a separate ethnic group living in Pakistan and some other countries as well. They are mostly known as 'Roma' and 'untouchables'. They have different types of lifestyles as compared to other common people, as they always keep migrating from one place to another. They do not have proper houses; they live in tent houses and most probably work on daily wages to earn their living. Gypsies cannot be specified according to the place of residence and can only be classified according to their migration route. Previous historical and linguistic research showed the north Indian origin of Roma people. The present study collected 285 unrelated Roma individuals living in Punjab and typed with the Goldeneye Y20 system. Allelic frequencies ranged between 0.0035 and 0.5266, with haplotype diversity (HD) of 0.9999 and discrimination capacity (DC) of 0.8790. Gene diversity (GD) ranged from 0.6489 (DYS391) to 0.9764 (DYS391) (DY385ab). A total of 223 unique alleles were observed. Interestingly, the haplogroup R accounted for 40.56% and J for 22.06%. In MDS analysis, Pakistani Roma formed a close cluster with Roma from Constanta, Romania. The migration pattern of the Roma population from Pakistan, India and Europe was inferred using coalescence theory in the Migrate-n program. Overlapping Y-STR data were used to test different migration models. These migration models showed us the dominant gene flow from Pakistan to India and Europe to Pakistan. The results of our study showed that Y STRs provided substantially stronger discriminatory power in the Pakistani Roma population.

A experiência e as estratégias das mulheres de etnia cigana com o nascimento dos seus filhos: a realidade do mundo cigano no Sistema Único de Saúde do Distrito Federal / The experience and strategies of gypsy women with the birth of their children: the reality of the gypsy world in the Public Health System of the Federal District, Brazil / La experiencia y estrategias de las mujeres gitanas con el nacimiento de sus hijos: la realidad del mundo gitano en el Sistema Público de Salud del Distrito Federal, Brasil

Objetivo: compreender as experiências e estratégias das mulheres de etnia cigana para ter acesso ao sistema público de saúde nos momentos de pré-natal, parto e pós-parto. Metodologia: foi empreendida uma pesquisa qualitativa, cuja coleta de dados realizou-se por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, com cinco mulheres ciganas de etnia Calon, idade entre 22 e 54 anos, moradoras no Distrito Federal. Por meio de uma abordagem fenomenológica, foram utilizados o conceito de experiência proposto por Schutz e o conceito de estratégia de Michael Bury. Resultados: apenas uma participante afirma ter realizado o pré-natal em uma de suas gestações, as demais foram atendidas de modo esporádico e uma última afirmou nunca ter buscado o serviço de saúde. Todas relatam dificuldades culturais ao se relacionarem com as instituições do Sistema Único de Saúde. Conclusão: para essas mulheres, o conceito de saúde se baseia na ausência de doenças e o Sistema Único de Saúde é percebido como apenas um cartão magnético, sendo a maior demanda é serem reconhecidas como etnia cigana pelo sistema de saúde.

Objective: to understand the experiences and strategies of gypsy women to access the public health system during prenatal, childbirth and postpartum periods. Methods: qualitative research was undertaken, whose data collection was conducted through a semi-structured interview, with five gypsy women of Calon ethnicity, aged between 22 and 54 years old, living in the Federal District, Brazil. Through a phenomenological approach, it was used the concepts of experience proposed by Schutz and of strategy by Michael Bury. Results: only one participant claims to have performed prenatal care in one of her pregnancies, three attended healthcare sporadically and one said she had never sought health service. All women reported cultural difficulties when dealing with the Unified Health System (SUS). Conclusion: for these women, the concept of health is based on the absence of diseases and the SUS is perceived as just a magnetic card; the highest demand is the gypsy ethnicity to be recognized by the public health system.

Objetivo: conocer las experiencias y estrategias de las mujeres gitanas para acceder al sistema público de salud durante el prenatal, parto y posparto. Metodología: se realizó una investigación cualitativa, cuya recolección de datos se realizó a través de una entrevista semiestructurada, con cinco mujeres gitanas de etnia Calon, con edades entre 22 y 54 años, residentes en el Distrito Federal, Brasil. A través de un enfoque fenomenológico se utilizó el concepto de experiencia propuesto por Schutz y el concepto de estrategia de Michael Bury. Resultados: solo una participante afirma haber realizado control prenatal en uno de sus embarazos, las demás fueron atendidas esporádicamente y la última dijo no haber buscado nunca el servicio de salud. Todos relatan dificultades culturales al relacionarse con las instituciones del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS). Conclusión: para estas mujeres, el concepto de salud se basa en la ausencia de enfermedades y el SUS es percibido sólo como una tarjeta magnética, siendo la mayor demanda ser reconocida como etnia gitana por el sistema de salud.

Cancer diagnosis, treatment and care: A qualitative study of the experiences and health service use of Roma, Gypsies and Travellers.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and treatment are key to reducing deaths from cancer, but people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups are more likely to encounter delays in entering the cancer care system. Roma, Gypsies and Travellers are ethnic minorities who experience extreme health inequalities. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of cancer diagnosis, treatment and care among people who self-identify as Roma or Gypsies and Travellers. METHODS: A participatory qualitative approach was taken. Peer researchers conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 37) and one focus group (n = 4) with community members in Wales and England, UK. RESULTS: Cancer fatalism is declining, but Roma, Gypsies and Travellers experience barriers to cancer healthcare at service user, service provider and organisational levels. Communication was problematic for all groups, and Roma participants reported lack of access to interpreters within primary care. Clear communication and trusting relationships with health professionals are highly valued and most frequently found in tertiary care. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Roma, Gypsies and Travellers are motivated to access health care for cancer diagnosis and treatment, but barriers experienced in primary care can prevent or delay access to diagnostic and treatment services. Organisational changes, plus increased cultural competence among health professionals, have the potential to reduce inequalities in early detection of cancer.

Knowledge and experience of cancer prevention and screening among Gypsies, Roma and Travellers: a participatory qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cancer is increasing worldwide, which has led to greater public health focus on primary prevention. Ethnic minorities have lower awareness of cancer risk factors and services, and are at greater risk of cancer mortality. While Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have poor health outcomes even in comparison with other ethnic minorities, little is known about how they view and enact primary prevention. This study takes a participatory approach to explore knowledge and experience of cancer prevention and screening in these communities. METHODS: Peer researchers conducted interviews (n = 37) and a focus group (n = 4) with a purposive sample of community members in Wales and South-West England. Participants self-identified as Roma (from Slovakia and Romania) or as Gypsies, Travellers or Showpeople (here described as Gypsy/Travellers). A third of the sample were Roma, and a quarter male, with ages ranging from 18 to 77 years. Data were collected from October 2018 to March 2019. RESULTS: Women and men knew that lifestyle factors, such as healthy diet, stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol and using sun protection, contribute to cancer risk reduction. However, there was a widespread lack of confidence in the effectiveness of these measures, particularly in relation to smoking. Traditional cultural beliefs were shared by Roma and Gypsy/Travellers, but did not necessarily affect the behaviour of individuals. Most women participated in cervical and breast screening but few Gypsy/Traveller men would engage with bowel screening, which conflicted with community ideals of stoical masculinity. Roma participants described language barriers to screening, with confusion about differences in timing and eligibility between the UK and Slovakian programmes; this led some to access screening abroad. CONCLUSION: This study provides new knowledge about how Gypsies, Roma and Travellers keep healthy and prevent disease, giving insights into similarities and differences between ages, sexes and communities. These culturally distinct and high-need ethnic minorities have specific needs in relation to cancer prevention and screening, which merit targeted and acceptable health promotion to reduce health inequalities.

Levels of HIV Testing Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in Bulgaria: Very Low Testing by Ethnic Minority Roma (Gypsy) Men.

Little is known about HIV testing among young men who have sex with men (MSM) in Southeastern European countries, nor about differences in testing by young ethnic majority and young Roma MSM, the region's most disadvantaged minority population. 271 young MSM (153 non-Roma and 118 Roma) were recruited in Sofia, Bulgaria and completed measures of HIV testing, psychosocial characteristics related to testing, sexual behavior, and substance use. While 74% of ethnic majority MSM had an HIV test (and 56% had multiple prior tests), only 4% of Roma MSM had ever been tested. Roma MSM had lower knowledge about HIV testing, perceived greater barriers and weaker social norms for testing, and held more negative testing attitudes and intentions. Although all had male partners, no Roma MSM self-identified as gay and most reported transactional sex. Efforts are urgently needed to increase HIV testing uptake by young Roma MSM.

Memória dos Troncos Velhos: um estudo sobre memória social entre ciganos / Memory of Troncos Velhos: a study on social memory among gypsies

O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar as memórias práticas entre membros de uma comunidade cigana do estado do Espírito Santo, com cultura territorial seminômade, tradição oral e domínio linguístico do kaló. Foram realizados registros de informações em diários de campo e entrevistas individuais e em profundidade com cinco homens e cinco mulheres, com idades acima de 50 anos, integrantes das primeiras gerações da comunidade. Foi utilizado instrumento com roteiro semiestruturado explorando temas salientes à vida do grupo. As narrativas obtidas foram sistematizadas com o auxílio da classificação hierárquica descendente, procedida por meio do Programa Alceste. Entre os principais resultados encontrados, destacam-se as "relações de gênero e práticas cotidianas", "tradições e costumes" e "transformações em curso". Espera-se que o desenvolvimento deste estudo possa contribuir para ampliar o corpo de conhecimento produzido acerca da população cigana a partir de suas próprias narrativas.

The present study aimed to analyze the practical memories among members of a gypsy community from the State of Espírito Santo, with semi-nomadic territorial culture, oral tradition and mastery of language karó. Information records were made in field diaries and individual and in-depth interviews with five men and five women, aged over 50 years old, who were members of the first generations of the community. An instrument with a semi-structured script was used, exploring themes relevant to the group's life. The narratives obtained were systematized with the aid of the descending hierarchical classification, proceeding through the Programa Alceste. Among the main results found, "gender relations and everyday practices", "traditions and customs" and "ongoing transformations" stand out. It is hoped that the development of this study may contribute to expand the body of knowledge produced about the gypsy population from their own narratives.

Recent Common Origin, Reduced Population Size, and Marked Admixture Have Shaped European Roma Genomes.

The Roma Diaspora-traditionally known as Gypsies-remains among the least explored population migratory events in historical times. It involved the migration of Roma ancestors out-of-India through the plateaus of Western Asia ultimately reaching Europe. The demographic effects of the Diaspora-bottlenecks, endogamy, and gene flow-might have left marked molecular traces in the Roma genomes. Here, we analyze the whole-genome sequence of 46 Roma individuals pertaining to four migrant groups in six European countries. Our analyses revealed a strong, early founder effect followed by a drastic reduction of ∼44% in effective population size. The Roma common ancestors split from the Punjabi population, from Northwest India, some generations before the Diaspora started, <2,000 years ago. The initial bottleneck and subsequent endogamy are revealed by the occurrence of extensive runs of homozygosity and identity-by-descent segments in all Roma populations. Furthermore, we provide evidence of gene flow from Armenian and Anatolian groups in present-day Roma, although the primary contribution to Roma gene pool comes from non-Roma Europeans, which accounts for >50% of their genomes. The linguistic and historical differentiation of Roma in migrant groups is confirmed by the differential proportion, but not a differential source, of European admixture in the Roma groups, which shows a westward cline. In the present study, we found that despite the strong admixture Roma had in their diaspora, the signature of the initial bottleneck and the subsequent endogamy is still present in Roma genomes.

Traditional practices and perceptions of epilepsy among people in Roma communities in Bulgaria.

PURPOSE: We attempted to identify cultural aspects of epilepsy among the Roma community in Bulgaria by elucidating cultural beliefs, traditional treatments, and potential markers of stigma. METHODS: We established representative discussion groups among five distinct Roma subgroups (Lom, Kalderas, Thracian Tinsmiths (Tinkers), Kyustendil Xoroxane and Kopanari) from different Bulgarian regions. Data about local beliefs and treatment strategies were gathered. RESULTS: Most people were familiar with convulsions but non-convulsive focal seizures were seen not as epileptic but mainly as a "mental problem". Beliefs about putative etiologies for epilepsy were not uniform as some considered environmental and external factors such as high environmental temperatures, electric shocks, loud music, and fever as causes of seizures while others listed bad experiences, stress, trauma, and fear as possible causes. Epilepsy was seen by some as a divine punishment or resulting from black magic. Most considered epilepsy shameful and an obstacle to children attending school. Despite local differences, there was a uniform belief that epilepsy is incurable by Western medicine and people usually resort to traditional healers. A variety of rituals performed by local healers to treat epilepsy were described. DISCUSSION: Misconceptions about epilepsy may contribute to stigmatization in this population; this may in turn contribute to a high treatment gap in this group. As a result, the majority of Roma children with epilepsy are likely to leave school early, are greatly limited in their choice of spouse (particularly girls), and marriages often occur between people with epilepsy or those with a family history of epilepsy.

The role of group identification in the well-being of Spaniards with gypsy ethnicity.

Objective: To describe the role of sex, age, educational level and psychosocial group-identification factors in well-being and satisfaction with life. METHOD: 229 Spanish Gypsies completed a survey of demographic data, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, ethnic identity and the individual's inclusion of self within the ingroup. RESULTS: (a) only level of studies is related to satisfaction with life; (b) participants with higher scores in ethnic identity reported more well-being and more life satisfaction; and (c) assessment of ethnic belonging affects more areas of well-being than does perception of closeness to the ingroup. CONCLUSION: objective conditions of deprivation are not related to well-being as reported by the participants; it is important to study how Spanish Gypsies value and perceive their ethnicity in order to predict their well-being and satisfaction with life.

A community approach to engaging Gypsy and Travellers' in cancer services.

While cancer outcomes in the UK have improved, inequalities remain with poorer and some ethnic minority populations experiencing lower survival rates. Research has addressed Gypsies' and Travellers' cancer-related beliefs, experiences and practices as part of wider studies but this is the first study in the UK to specifically focus on cancer. Findings suggest that health beliefs and practices are shaped by historical and contemporary social processes and the marginal position of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK society can result in a preference for seeking information and support from within the community. Starting from a health assets perspective, findings indicate that the structure of social relations in Gypsy and Traveller communities could be more widely utilized in health promotion programmes. Developing and extending techniques employed by Gypsy and Traveller Non-governmental Organisations such as community-based interventions and the use of lay health advisers, could be an effective method of health promotion by raising knowledge of cancer, engaging community members in preventative programmes and encouraging earlier access to services.

Consanguineous marriages among Andalusian Gitanos/Calé: a genealogical analysis (1925-2006).

Using data from the family and genealogical reconstitutions of the Gitano population of 22 contiguous localities in eastern Andalusia, Spain, this study analysed the intensity, structure and historical evolution of consanguinity in 3056 couples formed from 1925 to 2006. Of these unions, 54.8% were consanguineous, and 28.7% involved relatives up to and including second cousins, resulting in a mean coefficient of inbreeding up to the third degree α3 = 12.4 × 10-3. The rest of the consanguineous unions (26.1% of all) involved more-distant relatives, such as third cousins, fourth cousins and so forth. When all consanguinity degrees found in the genealogical reconstitution were considered, the total mean coefficient of inbreeding was αt = 14.8 × 10-3. The merging of families and pedigrees generated a complex genealogical network with many inbreeding loops and important founder effects. This network revealed a high rate (62%) of Multiple Consanguineous Marriages (MCMs) in which second and subsequent consanguineous ties increased inbreeding levels by a fifth (20.5%). The accumulation of multiple degrees of distant relatedness, many of which had little social or biological importance, has contributed to a significant increase in inbreeding rates. Among Gitano people, intra-family marriages have remained common in the last decades, in sharp contrast to other Spanish populations. Hence the highest rates of close consanguinity (34%) and inbreeding (α3 = 14.6 × 10-3) were found in the 1960s, the decade that saw the onset of Spain's socioeconomic modernization, internationalization and massive migration. These are among the highest rates of inbreeding found in any European population, including the most endogamous Spanish isolates. They reveal marriage strategies not constrained primarily by geographical barriers, but by ethnocultural separation. Interestingly, in recent decades mixed marriages have been increasing rapidly in this minority, although they are compatible with high rates of consanguinity. Gitano secular endogamy is breaking up, but not uniformly.

Infância Calin: Socialização Étnica e Identidade Social entre Crianças Ciganas / Calin Childhood: Ethnic Socialization and Social Identity Among Gypsy Children / Infancia Calín: Socialización Étnica e Identidad Social entre Niños Gitanos

Compreendendo fases sucessivas do momento de proteção, aprendizagem e preparação para se tornarem adultas, na infância, as crianças ciganas vão sendo formadas para uma vida em grupo e voltada para o núcleo familiar. A partir dos conceitos de socialização étnica e de identidade social, o estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de analisar o universo psicossocial da infância calin entre crianças de etnia calon no estado do Espírito Santo. Participaram do estudo sete crianças, com idades entre 4 e 12 anos, que compõem a terceira geração da comunidade, a primeira após processo de fixação territorial. As entrevistas foram orientadas por um roteiro semiestruturado explorando os universos da lei cigana, tradições do grupo e vivências cotidianas, bem como técnicas de desenho a fim de conhecer as imagens de si, da família e de futuro. Todas as entrevistas foram realizadas no acampamento cigano e os dados foram analisados por meio da análise de conteúdo temática. Os principais resultados demonstraram que as crianças calin destacam em suas narrativas a vivência da lei cigana e das tradições por meio do uso de vestimentas típicas e da língua caló, moradia em tendas e obediência às normas para o matrimônio, bem como relatam rotinas envolvendo brincadeiras, escolarização e atividades de mediação para o universo adulto....(AU)

Comprising successive phases of the moment of protection, learning and preparation to become adults, gypsy children are being raised for a life in group and geared towards the family nucleus. Based on the concepts of ethnic socialization and social identity, the study was developed in order to analyze the psychosocial universe of Calin childhood among Calon children in the State of Espírito Santo. Seven children aged between 4 and 12 years participated in the study. They make up the third generation of the community, the first one after the process of territorial settlement. The interviews were guided by a semi-structured script exploring the universes of Gypsy law, group traditions and everyday experiences, as well as drawing techniques in order to know the images of oneself, the family and the future. All the interviews were carried out in the Gypsy camp and the data were analyzed through the thematic content analysis approach. The main results showed that Calin children emphasize in their narratives the experience of Gypsy law and traditions through the use of typical dress and Caló language, residence in tents and obedience to norms for marriage, as well as routines involving games, schooling and mediation activities for the adult universe. In this scenario, the resistance movements of the group rise, in which the new generation will have to protect the essential identity elements of the Gypsy culture and create resources to maintain their sociability in transit on the borders with the non-Gypsy world....(AU)

En la infancia, los niños gitanos se van formando para una vida en grupo y orientada hacia el núcleo familiar, comprendiendo fases sucesivas del momento de protección, aprendizaje y preparación para hacerse adultos, en la infancia. A partir de los conceptos de socializaciónétnica y de identidad social, el estudio fue desarrollado con el objetivo de analizar el universo psicosocial de la infancia calin entre niños de etnia calon en el estado de Espírito Santo. Participaron del estudio 7 niños, entre 04 y 12 años de edad, que componen la tercera generación de la comunidad, la primera después del proceso de fijación territorial. Las entrevistas fueron orientadas por un guion semiestructurado explorando los universos de la ley gitana, tradiciones del grupo y vivencias cotidianas, así como técnicas de dibujo a fin de conocer las imágenes de sí, de la familia y del futuro. Todas las entrevistas se realizaron en el campamento gitano y los datos fueron analizados por medio del análisis de contenido temático. Los principales resultados demostraron que los niños calin destacan en sus narrativas la vivencia de la ley gitana y de las tradiciones por medio del uso de ropas típicas y de la lengua caló, vivienda en tiendas y obediencia a las normas para el matrimonio, así como también relatan rutinas que involucran juegos, escolarización y actividades de mediación para el universo adulto. En este contexto, se manifiestan movimientos de resistencia del grupo, en el que la nueva generación tendría como tarea mantener los elementos identitarios esenciales de la cultura gitana y crear recursos para mantener su sociabilidad en tránsito en las fronteras con el mundo no gitano....(AU)

Engaging Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Communities in Research: Maximizing Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges.

Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller people are marginalized worldwide and experience severe health inequalities, even in comparison to other ethnic minority groups. While diverse and hard to categorize, these communities are highly cohesive and members have a strong sense of identity as a group apart from the majority population. Researchers commonly experience challenges in accessing, recruiting, and retaining research participants from these communities, linked to their outsider status, insular nature, and history of discrimination. In this article, the challenges and the opportunities of engaging Gypsies, Roma, and Travellers in a multicenter qualitative research project are discussed. The management of public involvement and community engagement in this U.K.-based project provides insights into conducting research effectively with ethnically and linguistically diverse communities, often considered to be "hard to reach."

What do we know about the health of Spanish Roma people and what has been done to improve it? A scoping review.

Objectives: This study aims to review the published literature on the health of the Roma population in Spain, particularly that which describes health interventions and outcomes. Design: A scoping review of published articles/reports on Roma population health was carried out in Spain for publications between 2002 and 2014. Articles in Spanish or English were identified from Pubmed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scielo, IBECS, MEDES, Dialnet, Index Foundation, a database of theses and Google Scholar. After an initial assessment of the article title and summary, genetic studies, editorials, reviews and grey literature with incomplete data were excluded. Two independent researchers followed a protocol to analyze the selected papers in terms of general information, methodology, themes, and results or conclusions. Results: Forty studies were selected for inclusion, primarily located through PubMed and Google Scholar. Most of the papers were scientific articles, published after 2007 in Spanish scientific journals (70.0%) followed by institutional reports (20.0%). The main language was Spanish (84.2%). The studies were carried out mainly by public institutions (35.0%) or universities (22.5%). Most (67.5%) followed a descriptive design and nearly half (47.5%) were concerned only with the Roma population. The main thematic areas were: child health (25%), infectious diseases (25%), health and social education context (20%), perceived health and lifestyle (15%), sexual and reproductive health (7,5%) and health services use (7,5%). We found seven intervention studies related to health, educational environment, or social services. Conclusions: There are few publications related to the health of the Roma community in Spain and even fewer related to health interventions and outcomes. Those that are available have focused on areas such as child health or infectious disease outbreaks. It is important to promote health interventions in Roma communities and longitudinal studies that include a comprehensive vision and account for the social determinants of health.

Ancoragem psicossocial a partir dos sentimentos negativamente valorados: representações sociais de ciganos / Psychosocial anchorage based on negatively valued feelings: social representations of gypsies / Anclaje psicosocial a partir de los sentimientos negativamente valorados: representaciones sociales de gitanos

Tendo como referência a abordagem não consensual da teoria das representações sociais, este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar como se articulam as representações sociais e a dimensão afetiva associadas ao objeto social "ciganos", entre população não cigana da Grande Vitória-ES. Foram desenvolvidos dois estudos complementares com (1) 108 estudantes universitários e (2) 10 sujeitos que associaram sentimentos de valoração negativa aos ciganos. A coleta dos dados foi realizada por meio da aplicação de questionário e de entrevista em profundidade, e o tratamento das informações obtidas foi conduzido com o auxílio dos softwares SPAD-T e Alceste. Os resultados indicaram a (re)produção de estereótipos negativos vinculados aos ciganos e a dimensão afetiva fortemente marcada por medo e aversão, núcleo de preconceito e discriminação contra os ciganos.

Having as a reference the non-consensual approach of the Theory of Social Representations, this study aimed to investigate how the social representations and the affective dimension associated with the social object "Gypsies" among non-Gypsy population within the metropolitan area of Vitória-ES. Two complementary studies were developed with (1) 108 college students and (2) 10 subjects who linked feelings of negative assessment towards the Gypsies. Data collection was performed by applying a questionnaire and in-depth interview and the handling of the obtained information was processed with the help of SPAD-T and Alceste softwares. The results showed the (re)production of negative stereotypes linked to Gypsies and the affective dimension strongly marked by fear and aversion, core of prejudice and discrimination against Gypsies.

En este trabajo se analizan las relaciones sociales y la dimensión afectiva asociadas al objeto social "gitanos", entre población no gitana de la Gran Victoria-ES, teniendo como referencia el abordaje no consensuado de la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Dos estudios complementarios fueron desarrollados con (1) 108 estudiantes universitarios y (2) 10 sujetos que asociaron sentimientos de valoración negativa a los gitanos. La recolección de los datos fue realizada por medio de la aplicación de cuestionario y de entrevista en profundidad y el tratamiento de las informaciones obtenidas fue conducido con la ayuda del software SPAD-T y Alceste. Los resultados indicaron la (re) producción de estereotipos negativos vinculados con los gitanos y la dimensión afectiva fuertemente marcada por miedo y aversión, núcleo de prejuicio y discriminación contra los gitanos.

Distribution of ADH1B genotypes predisposed to enhanced alcohol consumption in the Czech Roma/Gypsy population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyse the frequencies of rs1229984 genotypes within the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1B) gene in a Gypsies/Roma population and compare them with other populations and with ethanol consumption. METHODS: We analysed the ADH1B (rs1229984; Arg47→His; c.143G>A) genotype using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in two ethnically different groups - Gypsies/Roma (N = 301) and Czechs (N = 300) where one day alcohol consumption was recorded. RESULTS: ADH1B genotype/allelic frequencies did not significantly differ between the populations (p = 0.32). The frequency of minor A allele carriers was slightly higher in Gypsies/Roma (14.7%) than in Czechs (11.9%). The prevalence of subjects reporting alcohol intake on the previous day was non-significantly lower in Gypsies/Roma (10.5% vs. 16.4%), as was the amount of alcohol consumed the day before the examination in ethanol consumers (36.1 ± 18.3 g vs. 43.0 ± 27.2 g). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of rs1229984 genotypes in the ADH1B gene within the Gypsies/Roma population corresponds with frequencies obtained in North India/Central Asia, the putative country of this ethnic origin. Our results suggest that the minority Gypsies/Roma population consume slightly less alcohol than the Czech majority population.

Os eternos estrangeiros: contato, campo afetivo e representações sociais de ciganos entre não ciganos da grande Vitória/ES / The eternal foreigners: contact, affective field and social representations of gypsies among non gypsies in the metropolitan region of Vitória/ES / Los extranjeros eternos: contacto, campo afectivo y representaciones sociales de gitanos entre no gitanos en la región metropolitana de Vitória/ES

Este trabalho investigou a elaboração do objeto social 'ciganos' entre não ciganos da Grande Vitória/ES, a partir da dimensão afetiva e dos níveis de contato em relação ao grupo cigano. Participaram do estudo 56 pessoas, com idades entre 18 e 45 anos, que apresentaram tanto sentimentos positivos quanto negativos em relação aos ciganos. Para o tratamento dos dados, coletados por meio da aplicação de questionário, utilizou-se o software EVOC e a Análise de Conteúdo Categorial. Os resultados informam que o posicionamento afetivo se organiza, principalmente, a partir das dimensões positiva 'curiosidade' e 'respeito', e negativa 'insegurança' e 'desconfiança'. Associado a esse campo de ambiguidades, entre os elementos centrais das representações de ciganos encontram-se significados como 'nomadismo' e 'cultura diferente', além de estereótipos negativos e termos que descrevem a dimensão figurativa do objeto social. Discute-se a função das representações encontradas na manutenção do preconceito e da discriminação social contra esse grupo.

This study investigated the construction of the social object 'gypsies' among non-gypsies in the metropolitan region of Vitória/ES, based on the affective dimension and the levels of contact towards the gypsy group. Fifty-six (56) individuals aged between 18 and 45 participated in the study. They presented both positive and negative feelings towards gypsies. The data were gathered through questionnaires, and then treated using the software EVOC and Categorical Content Analysis approach. The results showed that the affective field is organized mainly based on the positive dimensions 'curiosity' and 'respect', and the negative ones 'insecurity' and 'suspicion'. Associated to this field of ambiguity, among the central elements of the representations of gypsies, we found meanings such as 'nomadism' and 'different culture', as well as negative stereotypes and terms that describe the figurative dimension of the social object. This study discusses the function of these representations in the maintenance of prejudice and social discrimination against this group.

Este trabajo investigó la elaboración del objeto social 'gitanos' entre los no gitanos de la Gran Vitória/ES, a partir de la dimensión afectiva y de los niveles de contacto con relación al grupo gitano. Participaron en el estudio 56 personas de 18 a 45 años de edad que presentaron tanto sentimientos positivos como negativos con relación a los gitanos. Para el análisis de los datos, recogidos por medio de cuestionarios, se utilizó el software EVOC y el Análisis de Contenido Categorial. Los resultados informan que la posición afectiva se organiza, principalmente, a partir de las dimensiones positivas 'curiosidad' y 'respeto'; y negativas 'inseguridad' y 'desconfianza'. Asociado a este campo de ambigüedades, entre los elementos centrales de las representaciones de gitanos, se encuentran significados como 'nomadismo' y 'cultura diferente', además de estereotipos negativos y términos que describen la dimensión figurativa del objeto social. Se discute la función de las representaciones encontradas en el mantenimiento del prejuicio y de la discriminación social contra este grupo.