Original scientific paper

Trapped between Tradition and Transition – Anthropological and Epidemiological Cross-sectional Study of Bayash Roma in Croatia

Tatjana Škarić-Jurić orcid.org/0000-0003-3708-6170 ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Irena Martinović Klarić ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Nina Smolej Narančić ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Stipe Drmić ; Saint John Psychiatric hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Marijana Peričić Salihović ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Lovorka Barać Lauc orcid.org/0000-0002-5769-2103 ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Jasna Miličić ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Barabalić ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Matea Zajc orcid.org/0000-0002-8960-4446 ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Branka Janićljević ; Institute for Antropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Aim To assess the key characteristics related to living conditions and health in the Bayash Roma population in Baranja and Međimurje regions of Croatia and identify possible demographic and socio-economic sources of variance in selfreported health and reproductive profile. Methods The study comprised a total of 266 adult Bayash individuals from Baranja and 164 from Međimurje (aged 41.3 ± 15.1 years). Data on ethno-historical and demographic background, self-identity, life and hygiene conditions, education, employment, health insurance, and health (dietary and smoking habits, reproductive characteristics, diagnosed and undiagnosed health problems, use
of medications). were obtained through interviews. Bivariate and multivariate methods were used in statistical analyses. Results The reported migratory pattern demonstrated that 88.8% of the examinees were born in the region of residence, which showed that the Bayash population was autochthonous and sedentary one. Financially, the Bayash primarily relayed on social welfare support allowance (84%) and child allowance (47%), while merely 2% were permanently and 23% occasionally employed. The proportion
of the Bayash who had never attended school amounted to 33.3% (19.3% men and 40.6% women). The access to public water supply system was available to 52.5% of examinees, whereas only 1.7% had public sewage system, and 23.4% had private septic tanks. The most commonly reported health burden were frequent headaches (20.3%), stomach pain (16.3%), anxiety or insomnia (13.1%), hypertension (9.3%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (8.6%). The logistic regression identified level of education (odds ratio [OR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.94) and access to health insurance (OR, 4.32; 95% CI, 1.46-12.77) as socio-economic/life-style factors playing a significant role in the occurrence of COPD. Conclusion Our results indicate poor inclusion of the Bayash in the essential
social service sectors such as health care, education, and employment, as well as
substandard living conditions and unfavorable health-related behavior. Since
education and health insurance were found to have significant effects on the
observed reproductive status and self-reported health, they should be targeted
in planning public health actions for socially marginalized and economically deprived
groups.

Keywords

Anthropological; Epidemiological; Bayash Roma

Hrčak ID:

20964

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/20964

Publication date:

15.10.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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