A survey of quality of life indicators in the Romanian Roma population following the ‘Decade of Roma Inclusion’

Abstract

Background: This study explores how the Roma in Romania, the EU’s most concentrated population, are faring in terms of a number of quality of life indicators, including poverty levels, healthcare, education, water, sanitation, and hygiene.Methods: 135 surveys were conducted across five geographically diverse Romanian communities. Household participants were selected through a comprehensive random walk method. Analyses were conducted on all data using Pandas for Python.Results: These data indicate that the Roma in Romania face significant disparities in education, with Roma students less likely to progress beyond 8thgrade. In addition, the Roma population remains significantly disadvantaged with regard to safe and secure housing, poverty, and healthcare status, particularly in connection to diarrheal disease. In contrast, however, both Roma and non-Roma in rural areas face difficulties regarding full-time employment, sanitation, and water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure.Conclusions: These data demonstrate the challenges that remain to the Roma population in Romania, and also point to the myriad of ways in which all rural Romanians, regardless of ethnicity, are encountering hardship. This study highlights the areas in which improvements can be made to ensure the Roma, and indeed all Romanian citizens, have access to and confidence in sanitation services, clean water, and adequate healthcare treatment.