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Abstract
In comparison to other population groups In the UK, the health of Gypsies and Travellers Is among the worst In the country. The government's current agenda to reduce unacceptable Inequalities in health through far-reaching, cross-cutting and costly measures is still not making a significant difference. If improving the health of the worst off and most marginalised members of society is to be achieved, then there has to be personalised and tailored health service provision to specific target population groups. This is unlikely to be effective without identifying the factors that contribute to their poor health status and understanding specific cultural values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours relating to health. To this end, a research study was undertaken among a group of Gypsies and Travellers. Nine women were interviewed initially, and a further three to validate emerging theory. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using grounded theory methodology. This article focuses on several key factors identified that help explain the inequitably poor health status of Gypsies and Travellers. These include having a fatalistic outlook on life and health, the relationship between fatalism and stress, the culture of passing health-related information from one generation to the next that can perpetuate 'unhealthy' practices, and the difficulty in saying 'no' to children.
Key words
Gypsies, Travellers, health beliefs, behaviours, influences
Community Practitioner 2008; 81(6): 31-4.
Introduction
The UK's estimated 200000 to 300000 Gypsy and Traveller population have about the worst health status in the country.1 Despite the government's policy to reduce inequalities and bridge the health gap between the highest and lowest socioeconomic groups,2,4 the health of the most disadvantaged remains significantly poorer and is an on-going public health concern.5
The literature searches undertaken for the research study highlighted the dearth of information about Gypsies and Travellers in the UK. Little related to health, and even less related to cultural factors influencing health, including studies from other parts of the world. The two most comprehensive studies in England and Ireland1,6 exposed the disproportionately poor health of Gypsies and Travellers compared to other population groups.
To effectively address health inequalities, the provision of health care at a local level has to be tailor-made to suit the culture and health-related behaviours of those it most seeks to reach.7 Understanding beliefs and...