Attendance of health screening among Roma and non-Roma women in three Central and Eastern European Countries

Abstract

Abstract The Roma populations in Central and Eastern Europe are two to three times more likely to have unmet health needs compared to non-Roma residents. The aim of the present study was to examine differences in the frequency of health screening between Roma and non-Roma women in Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, in addition to searching for factors influencing attendance at health screenings among both populations. Roma women reported a higher importance of attendance at health screening (M = 4.22, SD = 1.05) than non-Roma women (M = 3.57, SD = 1.37) (t(439) = -5.676, p < 0.001, g = 0.52) in Romania. In Hungary and Slovakia, there was non-significant difference by ethnicity. Attendance at health screening and having health insurance revealed a statistically significant association in Romania (χ2(1,N=258) = 6.079, p = 0.019, Ф = 0.15) and Slovakia (χ2(1,N=146) = 20.350, p < 0.001, Ф = 0.37) among Roma women. Active lifestyle and attendance at a health screening showed a significant association among non-Roma women in Romania (χ2(1,N=183) = 6.344, p = 0.016, Ф = 0.19). It is important to bear in mind that the existence of health insurance is an important factor in ensuring that Roma people have screening. In addition, more information specifically targeting Roma is needed to make the Roma population aware of the benefits of screening programmes.