Contents
- Lifestyle related illnesses and hypertension
- Cancer
- Mental health
- Immunisation
- Maternity services
- Children and young people
- Rough sleepers and homeless community members
- Introduction to the Roma health guide
- Barriers to healthcare for the Roma community
- System barriers
- Language barriers and communication
- Cultural barriers - Common health problems and vulnerable groups:
- Lifestyle related illnesses and hypertension
- Cancer
- Mental health
- Immunisation
- Maternity services
- Children and young people
- Rough sleepers and homeless community members
Cultural barriers
Click on the headings below to view text.
General health taboos in Roma culture
There are many health-related purity rules and taboos in traditional Roma culture. These may influence Roma patients’ behaviour and use of services, although treatment of taboo subjects will vary from one person to another.
In Roma culture, health is traditionally considered an ‘unclean’ or taboo subject, often not to be discussed even with close family members. There are unwritten rules about discussing your health with other Roma people of the opposite gender or in a different age group, usually with an age gap of over 10 years from the patient. Conversations about female or male specific health issues in particular should happen with a medical professional of the same gender and similar age where possible. However, age is not always as important when it comes to non-Roma professionals, as older professionals may be trusted more.
This taboo also extends to other areas. For example, an older Roma man will often feel too embarrassed to talk about his urological or gastrointestinal condition through a younger interpreter of any gender.
Taboos and customs around childbirth and maternity care are discussed in the Maternity services section.
In Roma culture, health is traditionally considered an ‘unclean’ or taboo subject, often not to be discussed even with close family members. There are unwritten rules about discussing your health with other Roma people of the opposite gender or in a different age group, usually with an age gap of over 10 years from the patient. Conversations about female or male specific health issues in particular should happen with a medical professional of the same gender and similar age where possible. However, age is not always as important when it comes to non-Roma professionals, as older professionals may be trusted more.
This taboo also extends to other areas. For example, an older Roma man will often feel too embarrassed to talk about his urological or gastrointestinal condition through a younger interpreter of any gender.
Taboos and customs around childbirth and maternity care are discussed in the Maternity services section.
Attitudes of health and care professionals
Frontline health practitioners are often unaware that their patients are Roma or know very little about the Roma ethnicity. This sometimes results in culturally insensitive practices among healthcare staff. It can also result in a feeling by Roma patients that health and care professionals do not take their needs seriously.
Some non-Roma interpreters translating into community languages may have prejudiced views of the Roma community. They may also have little understanding of Roma people’s health-related vocabulary in that language, and Roma culture in their country of origin. This can prevent effective communication and affect patients’ trust and engagement with services. Training for frontline staff in Roma-specific issues can help raise awareness of the barriers and improve relationships with the community.
Some non-Roma interpreters translating into community languages may have prejudiced views of the Roma community. They may also have little understanding of Roma people’s health-related vocabulary in that language, and Roma culture in their country of origin. This can prevent effective communication and affect patients’ trust and engagement with services. Training for frontline staff in Roma-specific issues can help raise awareness of the barriers and improve relationships with the community.
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