Living in Roma Settlements in Greece: Self-Perceived Health Status, Chronic Diseases and Associated Social Determinants of Health

Ioanna Petraki, Natasa Kalpourtzi, Agapios Terzidis, Magda Gavana, Apostolos Vantarakis, Georgios Rachiotis, Argiro Karakosta, Vana Sypsa, Giota Touloumi and Hprolipsis Study Group
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Ioanna Petraki: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece
Natasa Kalpourtzi: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece
Agapios Terzidis: International Medicine-Health Crisis Management, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1, Dilou & Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece
Magda Gavana: Department of Primary Health Care, General Practice, and Health Services Research, Medical School of Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Apostolos Vantarakis: Environmental Microbiology Unit of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Rio Achaia, 26504 Patra, Greece
Georgios Rachiotis: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Thessaly, 3, Panepistimiou Str., Viopolis, 41500 Larisa, Greece
Argiro Karakosta: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece
Vana Sypsa: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece
Giota Touloumi: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece
Hprolipsis Study Group: See Acknowledgments.

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: We aimed to assess the self-perceived health status and the presence of chronic diseases of adult Roma living in settlements in Greece, and to explore associated social determinants of health. Data were derived from the Hprolipsis Health Survey. Multivariable regression models were applied. In total, 534 adults, 287 women, and 247 men were recruited from twelve Roma settlements in four prefectures. Although 62% of the participants perceived their health status as good/very good, about half of them had been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease. Several structural and intermediary social determinants of health were found to be significantly associated with the health outcomes; prefecture, settlement type, sex, age group, living with a partner, presence of depression symptoms, food insecurity, and alcohol consumption were associated with self-perceived health status; settlement type, sex, age group, presence of anxiety symptoms, food insecurity and number of persons living in the house with the presence of a chronic disease. This is one of the few studies assessing the self-perceived health status and presence of chronic diseases in Roma settlements in Greece and investigating the associated social determinants of health in the world. Community-based participatory action research and health literacy programs are needed to mitigate health inequalities in Roma settlements.

Keywords: Roma settlements; Greece; self-perceived health; chronic diseases; social determinants of health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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