Do Eating Habits of the Population Living in Roma Settlements Differ from Those of the Majority Population in Slovakia?

Abstract

Living in Roma settlements is associated with worse health in comparison with the majority population; this might be partially explained by socioeconomic disadvantages as well as cultural differences, including lifestyle. Eating habits represent an important part of lifestyle closely related to primary causes of morbidity and mortality, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases or cancers. The eating habits of the population living in Roma settlements in comparison with those of the majority population were explored using the cross-sectional epidemiological HepaMeta study conducted in 2011. A representative sample of Roma (n = 452, mean age = 34.7; 35.2% men) and non-Roma (n = 403, mean age = 33.5; 45.9% men) aged 18-55 years living in the Kosice region were asked about breakfasting and recent consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat products, meat, farinaceous dishes, and soft drinks. A logistic regression model was used separately for male and female participants. The population living in Roma settlements reported the recent consumption of fruit, vegetables and dairy products significantly less frequently in comparison with the majority population. Moreover, Roma females, in comparison with non-Roma females, reported significantly more frequently the consumption of meat and soft drinks. No differences were found between Roma and non-Roma in the consumption of meat products and farinaceous dishes. The population living in Roma settlements reported more frequently unhealthy eating habits in comparison with the majority population; this might contribute to worse health status of this population. The differences might be attributed to cultural differences between ethnic as well as socioeconomic groups, reduced availability of certain food items due to segregation or poverty and lower health literacy.

Why don’t segregated Roma do more for their health? An explanatory framework from an ethnographic study in Slovakia

“…Despite notable exceptions indicating equal or healthier social support (Bobakova et al 2015; Kolarcik et al 2012), alcohol and illicit drug use (Babinska et al 2014; Kolarcik et al 2010) and sexual behaviours (Halanova et al 2014), rigorous studies show that overall Slovak segregated Roma engage in riskier health-related practices than the rest of the population. For example, higher levels of smoking (Belak 2013; Jarcuska et al 2013), an unhealthier diet (Hijova et al 2014; Krajcovicova-Kudlackova et al 2004), unhealthier physical activity (Babinska et al 2014; Kolarcik et al 2010), the maintenance of riskier material conditions (Filadelfiova and Gerbery 2012; Majdan et al 2012) and less effective healthcare use (Belak 2013; Jarcuska et al 2013) are found among these Roma.…”

The health of segregated Roma: first-line views and practices: a case study in Slovakia using ethnographic methods

“…Higher smoking rates, less physical activity, riskier dietary habits and greater perceived healthcare access barriers have all been found in rigorous comparative studies (e.g. Babinska et al 2013;Hijova et al 2014;Jarcuska et al 2013). Other research indicates poor community and personal hygienic standards, a missing or dysfunctional basic infrastructure, increased environmental hazards, overcrowding and even food shortages (e.g.…”

“…Rigorous scientific studies have found the segregated Roma in Slovakia to live in unhealthier material circumstances (Frisman et al 2015;Majdan et al 2012;Škobla et al 2016) (for an illustration, see Figure 1.6), to smoke and use illicit drugs more frequently (Babinska et al 2013;e.g. de Courten et al 2003;Hubková et al 2018;Vazan et al 2011), to eat an unhealthier diet and be more obese (Hijova et al 2014;Krajcovicova-Kudlackova et al 2004;Petrásová et al 2014) and to engage in less healthy physical activities and incur more injuries Babinska et al 2013;Kolarcik et al 2010). Slovak segregated Roma were also found to face greater healthcare-access barriers (Bobakova et al 2015;Kolarcik et al 2015) and to rate their health as worse (Geckova et al 2014;Kolarcik et al 2009).…”

“…Despite notable exceptions indicating equal or healthier social support (Bobakova et al 2015;Kolarcik et al 2012), alcohol and illicit drug use Kolarcik et al 2010) and sexual behaviours (Halanova et al 2014), rigorous studies show that overall Slovak segregated Roma engage in riskier health-related practices than the rest of the population. For example, higher levels of smoking (Belak 2013;Jarcuska et al 2013), an unhealthier diet (Hijova et al 2014;Krajcovicova-Kudlackova et al 2004), unhealthier physical activity (Babinska et al 2014; Kolarcik et al 2010), the maintenance of riskier material conditions (Filadelfiova et al 2012;Majdan et al 2012) and less effective healthcare use (Belak 2013;Jarcuska et al 2013) are found among these Roma.…”

Roma Ethnicity and Sex-Specific Associations of Serum Uric Acid with Cardiometabolic and Hepatorenal Health Factors in Eastern Slovakian Population: The HepaMeta Study

“…Therefore, we examined a Roma population for some anthropometrical and biochemical parameters. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that Roma compared to non-Roma had higher rates of some cardiovascular disease risk factors (smoking, obesity, low HDL cholesterol) [ 17 ], metabolic syndrome [ 2 , 5 ], a lack of physical activity [ 18 ], as well as unhealthy eating habits [ 19 ]. The primary aim of the present study was to determine a comprehensive biochemical profile and ethnicity-specific associations of serum uric acid with cardiometabolic and hepatorenal health factors in Eastern Slovakian Roma and non-Roma populations.…”