ROMA SUPPORT GROUP
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Lifestyle related illnesses and hypertension

Contents
  • 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: 
           - Long term/chronic illness or disability
           - Lifestyle related illnesses and hypertension
           - Cancer
           - Mental health
           - Immunisation
           - Maternity services
           - Children and young people
           - Rough sleepers and homeless community members
  • Case studies
  • Resources

Lifestyle related illnesses and hypertension

From local health needs assessments (HNAs), common health conditions in the Roma community which are often lifestyle-related include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obstructive airways disease (COPD), pneumonia and lung cancer. The contributory factors [1] include smoking and poor diet, with a greater than average proportion of Roma people in several studies estimated to smoke [2] and have unhealthy eating habits, for example by consuming sugary soft drinks. In one Sheffield HNA (2016), a greater proportion of Roma men and women between ages 18-55 had an obesity diagnosis than their counterparts in the non-Roma practice population. Side effects of obesity will manifest as diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease at a much earlier age than normally observed.

Recommendations:

  • Work with GPs, community groups, school nurses and health workers to improve basic public health awareness through workshops on eg. nutrition and fast food or smoking cessation.​
  • Appoint a Roma or culturally sensitive bilingual health advocate/mediator to support better access to healthcare and health literacy. For an example, see the Pacesetters programme.

[1] NHS Barking and Dagenham: Health and Social Care Needs Assessment of Eastern European (including Roma) individuals living in Barking and Dagenham (2010) 

[2] A Sheffield study confirms that smoking was more prevalent amongst Roma than non-Roma population in 2016: Sheffield City Council: Slovak Roma Health Needs Assessment (2016)

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  • Home
    • About Us
    • Trustees
    • Staff
    • Our Funders
    • News & Events
    • History
  • Projects
    • Advice & Advocacy >
      • Service User Agreement
      • Roma Community Advocacy Project (2014-19)
      • Elder Roma Engagement Project (2011-14)
      • Young Roma Advocacy Project (2010-13)
    • Art & Culture >
      • Roma Bridging Sounds Orchestra
      • Instrumental music classes in East London >
        • Stage performances by participants in our instrumental classes
        • Dance classes
        • Exhibitions
        • Romani Rad
        • Promoting Roma musicians and artists
        • Visual arts workshops
        • Forum Theatre Project
    • Aspiration Project >
      • Roma Aspiration Project >
        • Education Support Projects
        • Young Roma enjoy orienteering in Lee Valley Regional Park
        • Roma children visit Parliament
        • Building bridges and breaking barriers
        • Kids’ Cookery School
    • Health Projects >
      • Mental Health Project
    • Ketane - Together: Roma Shaping Futures
    • Policy and Campaigning
    • Roma and Brexit >
      • Stay Settled in Newham Project
    • Roma News Project
    • 'Roma Stories': Roma Oral History Project
    • Roma Support and Engagement Programme >
      • Roma Support Group Expertise
      • Specialist Support for Research and Consultation
      • Training for Professionals and the Community
      • Intervention Service for Professionals Working with Roma Families and Individuals in Crisis
    • Sport Inclusion
  • Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Our Publications
    • Annual Reports
    • Our Research
    • Resources for the Roma Community
    • Roma Health Guide
    • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month >
      • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month 2020
      • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month 2021 >
        • GRTHM 2021 Art Competition
      • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month 2022 - RSG Art Competition
    • Robert Dawson Collection
    • Alternative Service Providers
    • Other Resources
  • Training
    • Customised Training for Organisations
    • Public Training for Professionals >
      • Training: Roma cultural awareness
      • Training: Positive interventions for Roma in health context
      • Training: Positive interventions for Roma in education context
      • Training: Working with Roma in safeguarding context
      • Training: Working with Roma through interpreters
    • Roma Culture Workshops for Schools
  • Vacancies
    • Jobs
    • Volunteering
    • Volunteering as a trustee
  • Membership
  • Support us
    • How to donate
    • Legacies
  • Contact
    • Make a referral