Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(Supplement):S6-S11

HepaMeta - Prevalence of Hepatitis B/C and Metabolic Syndrome in Population Living in Separated and Segregated Roma Settlements: a Methodology for a Cross-sectional Population-Based Study Using Community-Based Approach

Andrea Madarasov� Geckov�^1,2, Peter Jar�u�ka³, M�ria Marekov�⁴, Daniel Pella³, Leonard Siegfried⁵, Pavol Jar�u�ka⁶, Monika Hal�nov�⁷

¹ Health Psychology Unit, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. �af�rik University in Ko�ice, Ko�ice, Slovakia

² Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palack� University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic

³ 1st Department of Internal Medicine, P. J. �af�rik University in Ko�ice, Faculty of Medicine and L. Pasteur University Hospital, Ko�ice, Slovakia

⁴ Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry and LABMED, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. �af�rik University in Ko�ice, Ko�ice, Slovakia

⁵ Department of Medical Microbiology, P. J. �af�rik University in Ko�ice, Faculty of Medicine and L. Pasteur University Hospital, Ko�ice, Slovakia

⁶ Department of Infectious Diseases, P. J. �af�rik University in Ko�ice, Faculty of Medicine and L. Pasteur University Hospital, Ko�ice, Slovakia

⁷ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. �af�rik University in Ko�ice, Ko�ice, Slovakia

Background: Roma represent one of the largest and oldest minorities in Europe. Health of many of them, particularly those living in settlements, is heavily compromised by poor dwelling, low educational level, unemployment, and poverty rooted in generational poverty, segregation and discrimination. The cross-sectional population-based study using community based approach aimed to map the prevalence of viral hepatitis B/C and metabolic syndrome in the population living in separated and segregated Roma settlements and to compare it with the occurrence of the same health indicators in the majority population, considering selected risk and protective factors of these health indicators.

Methods: The sample consisted of 452 Roma (mean age = 34.7; 35.2% men) and 403 non-Roma (mean age = 33.5; 45.9% men) respondents. Data were collected in 2011 via questionnaire, anthropometric measures and analysed blood and urine samples. A methodology used in the study as well as in the following scientific papers is described in the Methods section (i.e. study design, procedures, samples, methods including questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, physical measurements, blood and urine measurements).

Conclusions: There are regions of declining prosperity due to high unemployment, long-term problems with poverty and depleted resources. Populations living in these areas, i.e. in Central and Eastern Europe in Roma settlements, are at risk of poverty, social exclusion and other factors affecting health. Therefore, we should look for successful long-term strategies and tools (e.g. Roma mediators, terrain work) in order to improve the future prospects of these minorities.

Keywords: Roma settlements, disadvantaged groups, health, health-related behaviour, socioeconomic indicators, living conditions

Published: March 1, 2014  Show citation