Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia.
Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Int J Public Health. 2024 Mar 22;69:1606784. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606784. eCollection 2024.
This study aims to compare selected early childhood health risks and health outcomes of children from marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia with those of the majority.
We obtained cross-sectional data from mother-child dyads from the majority (N = 109) and MRCs (N = 143) via questionnaires and from medical records. Socioeconomic status, health risks and health outcomes were compared using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests in SPSS.
Mothers from MRCs reported significantly worse socioeconomic status. Air quality in the households in MRCs was significantly worse, affected by heating with stoves, burning fresh wood and indoor smoking. The diet composition of children from MRCs was characterized by shorter breastfeeding and unhealthy diet composition less fresh fruits and vegetables, more processed meat products, and sweet and salty snacks. Children from MRCs more often suffered from respiratory and diarrheal diseases, used antibiotics and were hospitalized.
The health and healthy development of children living in MRCs is endangered by various poverty-related factors. Persistent differences in exposures and health in early childhood should be a priority goal of the state's social and health policies.
本研究旨在比较来自斯洛伐克边缘罗姆人社区（MRC）的儿童与多数儿童的某些儿童期健康风险和健康结果。
我们通过问卷和病历从多数群体（N=109）和 MRC 群体（N=143）的母婴二人组中获得了横断面数据。使用 SPSS 中的卡方检验和曼-惠特尼 U 检验比较社会经济地位、健康风险和健康结果。
MRC 群体的母亲报告的社会经济地位明显较差。MRC 家庭的空气质量明显较差，受到火炉取暖、燃烧新鲜木材和室内吸烟的影响。MRC 儿童的饮食结构以母乳喂养时间较短和不健康的饮食结构为特征，新鲜水果和蔬菜较少，加工肉类产品较多，甜食和咸食较多。MRC 儿童更常患呼吸道和腹泻疾病，使用抗生素并住院治疗。
生活在 MRC 中的儿童的健康和健康发展受到各种与贫困相关的因素的威胁。在儿童早期持续存在的暴露和健康差异应成为国家社会和卫生政策的优先目标。
