Health Care and Access to Quality Social-Health Services of the Roma and Sinti: A Scoping Review

Danilo Buonsenso, Davide Pata (), Francesca Raffaelli, Giorgio Malorni, Francesca Colaiaco and Walter Malorni
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Danilo Buonsenso: Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Davide Pata: Center for Global Health Research and Studies, Istituto di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
Francesca Raffaelli: Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Giorgio Malorni: Bewweb srl, 00144 Rome, Italy
Francesca Colaiaco: Italian Red Cross Association, 00151 Rome, Italy
Walter Malorni: Center for Global Health Research and Studies, Istituto di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Background: The aim of this scoping review is to analyze the health status of Roma and Sinti in Europe, highlighting the issues faced by children and women. In addition, we want to examine the access of these groups to health care services and to identify possible interventions to increase their use. Methods: Our research was conducted on Pubmed, Google Scholar, and the Trip Database. We selected articles written in English, Spanish, and Italian published since 2015. Results: Studies have shown that the health status of Roma and Sinti populations is generally worse than that of the rest of the population. Limited access to care is due to several specific factors, such as beliefs, traditions, and the lack of awareness of widespread direct and indirect discrimination against these groups by healthcare professionals. The studies reviewed have shown how mistrust can be broken down through multi-centered interventions linked to information, education, and communication through mediators able to interact with these populations, as well as through appropriate training of the health workers in charge. Conclusions: The health of the Roma and Sinti populations is commonly worse than that of the rest of the population. This is particularly true for the large proportion of people confined to suburban camps. However, the available evidence signals the low quality of life they experience and the need for interventions involving the communities and the establishment of ad hoc orientation or initial care contact points in the segregated areas. This could lead to an improvement in the integration of this population into the National Health Systems’ activities.

Keywords: Roma; Sinti; public health; disease prevention; chronic diseases; access to cures; inequalities; minorities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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