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Socioeconomic position, gender, and inequalities in self-rated health between Roma and non-Roma in Serbia

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objective

Roma experience high levels of discrimination and social exclusion. Our objective was to examine differences in self-rated health (SRH) between Roma and non-Roma in Serbia.

Methods

Using data from the 2007 Living Standards Measurement Survey in Serbia (n = 14,313), we used binomial regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) of poor (SRH) among Roma (n = 267) relative to non-Roma. We additionally conducted group comparisons of combinations of Romani ethnicity, poverty, and gender, relative to the baseline group of non-Roma males not in poverty.

Results

Adjusting for age, Roma were more than twice as likely as non-Roma to report poor SRH (RR = 2.3, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.8, 2.8). After adjustment for household consumption, employment, and education, the RR was reduced to 1.6 (95% CI = 1.3, 2.0). Romani women, regardless of whether they were living in poverty or not, experienced the greatest risk of poor SRH, with risks relative to non-Roma males not in poverty of 3.2 (95% CI = 2.3, 4.2) and 3.1 (95% CI = 2.4, 4.0), respectively.

Conclusion

Roma in Serbia are at increased risk of poor SRH; Romani women experience the greatest burden of poor SRH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, Global Health Initiative, Yale University, Rosenkranz Hall Room 248, New Haven, CT, 06520-8206, USA

    Teresa Janevic

  2. Institute of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Janko Jankovic

  3. Yale School of Public Health, Global Health Initiative, New Haven, CT, USA

    Elizabeth Bradley

Authors
  1. Teresa Janevic
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  2. Janko Jankovic
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  3. Elizabeth Bradley
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Correspondence to Teresa Janevic.

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Janevic, T., Jankovic, J. & Bradley, E. Socioeconomic position, gender, and inequalities in self-rated health between Roma and non-Roma in Serbia. Int J Public Health 57, 49–55 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-011-0277-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-011-0277-1

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