Disparities in fatal and non-fatal injuries between Irish travellers and the Irish general population are similar to those of other indigenous minorities: a cross-sectional population-based comparative study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess recent disparities in fatal and non-fatal injury between travellers and the general population in Ireland.DesignA cross-sectional population-based comparative study.SettingRepublic of Ireland.ParticipantsPopulation census and retrospective mortality data were collected from 7042 traveller families, travellers being those identified by themselves and others as members of the traveller community. Retrospective injury incidence was estimated from a survey of a random sample of travellers in private households, aged 15 years or over (702 men and 961 women). Comparable general population data were obtained from official statistical reports, while retrospective incidence was estimated from the Survey of Lifestyle, Attitude and Nutrition 2002, a random sample of 5992 adults in private households aged 18 years or over.Outcome measuresPotential Years of Life Lost (PYLL), Standardised Mortality Ratios (SMR), Standardised Incidence Ratios (SIR) and Case Fatality Ratios (CFR).ResultsInjury accounted for 36% of PYLL among travellers, compared with 13% in the general population. travellers were more likely to die of unintentional injury than the general population (SMR=454 (95% CI 279 to 690) in men and 460 (95% CI 177 to 905) in women), with a similar pattern for intentional injury (SMR=637 (95% CI 367 to 993) in men and 464 (95% CI 107 to 1204 in women). They had a lower incidence of unintentional injury but those aged 65 years or over were about twice as likely to report an injury. Travellers had a higher incidence of intentional injuries (SIR=181 (95% CI 116 to 269) in men and 268 (95% CI 187 to 373) in women). Injury CFR were consistently higher among travellers.ConclusionsIrish travellers continue to bear a disproportionate burden of injury, which calls for scaling up injury prevention efforts in this group. Prevention and further research should focus on suicide, alcohol misuse and elderly injury among Irish travellers.

A rapid review of Irish Traveller mental health and suicide: a psychosocial and anthropological perspective

“…Of the five studies that made specific reference to suicide (Table 1), four were conducted in Ireland. Of these, the leading quantitative study calculated a Standardised Mortality Ratio for suicide amongst Travellers in Ireland, and reported an SMR of 6.6 for young adult males (Abdalla et al 2013). The qualitative studies focussed on aspects of mental illness and postvention themes and impacts of bereavement, grief and loss through suicide ((McGorrian et al 2013;Malone et al 2017;Tobin et al 2018;Millan & Smith, 2019).…”

POIS-10 Māori: Outcomes and Experiences in the Decade Following Injury

“…Like most other health issues, Indigenous populations experience greater injury burdens than non-indigenous groups in their respective countries [8]. For example, the incidence of severe injuries among Aboriginal Canadians is nearly four times higher than non-Aboriginal Canadians [9].…”

Are Gypsy Roma Traveller communities indigenous and would identification as such better address their public health needs?

“…Roma Travellers can make a claim [6]. Whilst Scottish [13] and Irish Travellers self-identify as indigenous [14], Irish Travellers' formal recognition in the law of their indigenous ethnic minority status did not occur until 2017 [15]. In contrast, Scottish, English Gypsies and other Eastern European Roma have no formal recognition as indigenous peoples, instead they are classified as ethnic minority groups [16,17].…”

“…Gypsy Roma Traveller communities have higher mortality rates for both men and women; recent data from the European Commission [40] identifies that 12 of the 31 countries collected data on life expectancy of Roma population and identified they have between 7 to 20 fewer years of life compared to their non Roma counterparts. Higher mortality rates and accidental deaths [14] are compounded by poor accommodation that negatively impacting physical health [30]. Abdalla et al [14] found 27% of Irish…”

“…Higher mortality rates and accidental deaths [14] are compounded by poor accommodation that negatively impacting physical health [30]. Abdalla et al [14] found 27% of Irish…”