Page 110 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 110
avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 110 that such material has an impact only if certain conditions are met, such as at
least minimal literacy of the target group and the fact that the user (in this re-
search, these were women of reproductive age) can identify with the content.
Older Roma women would need educational materials for preventive examina-
tions, combined with information how to recognize possible symptoms of dis-
eases. Illiterate women should be offered pictorial illustrations.
In the conversation with the health workers, we noticed some progress
in taking care of reproductive health and children’s health. They give birth in
a hospital, take care of their own and their children’s hygiene; they react very
quickly to health problems in children, because for Roma, children represent
joy. Most of them gave up breastfeeding. That being a mother is a mission for
Romani women is also confirmed by other research (LeMasters et al., 2019).
There are many obese children, which they attributed to low-quality nutrition.
They often catch colds due to inadequate living conditions. Smoking is pres-
ent. The possibility of discrimination was denied by the health workers, but
Romani women sometimes they are also “provoked” because they are Roma
or by different approaches to medical treatment, non-observance of instruc-
tions, treatment procedures, etc. This is also confirmed by research conducted
by other authors (Colombini et al., 2012; Watson and Downe, 2017).
Our research cannot be representative of all areas of Slovenia, but it brings
valuable insights of health workers, as they were able to express and exchange
their opinions for the first time about their experience with Roma people, their
health and the health of their children.
Conclusion
The findings of this research show that Roma people should be encouraged
to take care of their health. Various methods of education, talks, workshops
are available to achieve this goal. Their traditions must be considered, mes-
sages must be unambiguous and supported by images. They should be educat-
ed continuously, using similar intervention materials, modern media, planned
research, and the findings should be implemented into practice. The effects of
the intervention should be compared in different settlements in Slovenia. Only
in this way can a conceptual framework for a more unified approach and solv-
ing weak points in caring for the reproductive health of Roma women and the
health of Roma children be obtained.
References
COLOMBINI, M., RACHEL, B. and MAYHEW, S.H., 2012. Access of Roma to
sexual and reproductive health services: qualitative indings from Alba-
nia, Bulgaria and Macedonia. Global Public Health, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 522–
535.
least minimal literacy of the target group and the fact that the user (in this re-
search, these were women of reproductive age) can identify with the content.
Older Roma women would need educational materials for preventive examina-
tions, combined with information how to recognize possible symptoms of dis-
eases. Illiterate women should be offered pictorial illustrations.
In the conversation with the health workers, we noticed some progress
in taking care of reproductive health and children’s health. They give birth in
a hospital, take care of their own and their children’s hygiene; they react very
quickly to health problems in children, because for Roma, children represent
joy. Most of them gave up breastfeeding. That being a mother is a mission for
Romani women is also confirmed by other research (LeMasters et al., 2019).
There are many obese children, which they attributed to low-quality nutrition.
They often catch colds due to inadequate living conditions. Smoking is pres-
ent. The possibility of discrimination was denied by the health workers, but
Romani women sometimes they are also “provoked” because they are Roma
or by different approaches to medical treatment, non-observance of instruc-
tions, treatment procedures, etc. This is also confirmed by research conducted
by other authors (Colombini et al., 2012; Watson and Downe, 2017).
Our research cannot be representative of all areas of Slovenia, but it brings
valuable insights of health workers, as they were able to express and exchange
their opinions for the first time about their experience with Roma people, their
health and the health of their children.
Conclusion
The findings of this research show that Roma people should be encouraged
to take care of their health. Various methods of education, talks, workshops
are available to achieve this goal. Their traditions must be considered, mes-
sages must be unambiguous and supported by images. They should be educat-
ed continuously, using similar intervention materials, modern media, planned
research, and the findings should be implemented into practice. The effects of
the intervention should be compared in different settlements in Slovenia. Only
in this way can a conceptual framework for a more unified approach and solv-
ing weak points in caring for the reproductive health of Roma women and the
health of Roma children be obtained.
References
COLOMBINI, M., RACHEL, B. and MAYHEW, S.H., 2012. Access of Roma to
sexual and reproductive health services: qualitative indings from Alba-
nia, Bulgaria and Macedonia. Global Public Health, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 522–
535.
