Page 109 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 109
“Online ordering, well, that’s what I’d like to see. We are not there the influence of roma women’s education regarding their reproductive health on the health of their children 109
yet. They don’t know the basics yet.” (F1, S1, S2, S3, S4)
Discussion
Regardless of their perception of health, people and the public expect high-qual-
ity treatment - on time and equally accessible to everyone (Prevolnik Rupel,
Simčič and Turk, 2014). In Slovenia, there is no equality regarding health be-
tween the majority population and the Roma. They face basic problems, such
as lack of access to drinking water and electricity, poorer living conditions, ex-
clusion, which in turn affects their integration into the education system, atti-
tudes to health, especially in preventive activities and causes unhealthy eating
habits (World Roma Day, 2021).
Roma women in Slovenia have equal access to public health as the rest
of the population, but in practice they make insufficient use of these opportu-
nities (Logar Čuček, 2020). Taking care of their health is of secondary impor-
tance for Roma women, due to their position in the family, poorer social status,
and lower level education. Health workers included in this research confirm
this. They find that in the researched area, few Roma women complete prima-
ry school education due to the delayed start of schooling, repetition of classes.
They can acquire certain skills in the last triad of primary school education, but
they usually do not get that far. Lack of basic education also discourages them
from participating in various educational workshops on reproductive health,
infant care and maternity schools. For greater responsiveness, Roma women
must be motivated in a culturally acceptable way by taking into account lan-
guage barriers, the influence of tradition, and by adapting to Roma customs
and understanding. They also drew attention to the problems in communica-
tion between them and Roma women and, as a result, poorer cooperation and
lack of information, which is in line with the findings of similar research (Wat-
son and Downe, 2017; LeMasters, 2019; Komidar, 2019).
The research, which was carried out in the selected Roma settlement in
three phases (2016), has an applicative character, as the results were used to cre-
ate health and educational material, which included guidelines for more effec-
tive access of Roma women to the women’s dispensary where they could get
help and advice. The usefulness of the “I take care of my health” leaflet was al-
so verified with focus groups consisting of health workers responsible for wom-
en’s reproductive health. The participants confirmed the usefulness of the leaf-
let from the point of view of both its design and content: the location of the
medical centre, following the day of the week and working hours, the purpose
of the medical card, methods of making appointments. This would reduce vis-
its to emergency care. Areas where health workers can help them in taking care
of their health and the health of their children were presented. They empha-
sized the usefulness of information regarding the importance of gynaecologi-
cal examination, pregnancy, childbirth, protection, breastfeeding. They found
yet. They don’t know the basics yet.” (F1, S1, S2, S3, S4)
Discussion
Regardless of their perception of health, people and the public expect high-qual-
ity treatment - on time and equally accessible to everyone (Prevolnik Rupel,
Simčič and Turk, 2014). In Slovenia, there is no equality regarding health be-
tween the majority population and the Roma. They face basic problems, such
as lack of access to drinking water and electricity, poorer living conditions, ex-
clusion, which in turn affects their integration into the education system, atti-
tudes to health, especially in preventive activities and causes unhealthy eating
habits (World Roma Day, 2021).
Roma women in Slovenia have equal access to public health as the rest
of the population, but in practice they make insufficient use of these opportu-
nities (Logar Čuček, 2020). Taking care of their health is of secondary impor-
tance for Roma women, due to their position in the family, poorer social status,
and lower level education. Health workers included in this research confirm
this. They find that in the researched area, few Roma women complete prima-
ry school education due to the delayed start of schooling, repetition of classes.
They can acquire certain skills in the last triad of primary school education, but
they usually do not get that far. Lack of basic education also discourages them
from participating in various educational workshops on reproductive health,
infant care and maternity schools. For greater responsiveness, Roma women
must be motivated in a culturally acceptable way by taking into account lan-
guage barriers, the influence of tradition, and by adapting to Roma customs
and understanding. They also drew attention to the problems in communica-
tion between them and Roma women and, as a result, poorer cooperation and
lack of information, which is in line with the findings of similar research (Wat-
son and Downe, 2017; LeMasters, 2019; Komidar, 2019).
The research, which was carried out in the selected Roma settlement in
three phases (2016), has an applicative character, as the results were used to cre-
ate health and educational material, which included guidelines for more effec-
tive access of Roma women to the women’s dispensary where they could get
help and advice. The usefulness of the “I take care of my health” leaflet was al-
so verified with focus groups consisting of health workers responsible for wom-
en’s reproductive health. The participants confirmed the usefulness of the leaf-
let from the point of view of both its design and content: the location of the
medical centre, following the day of the week and working hours, the purpose
of the medical card, methods of making appointments. This would reduce vis-
its to emergency care. Areas where health workers can help them in taking care
of their health and the health of their children were presented. They empha-
sized the usefulness of information regarding the importance of gynaecologi-
cal examination, pregnancy, childbirth, protection, breastfeeding. They found
