HEALTH RISK FACTORS: BODY MASS INDEX, BLOOD PRESSURE AND BLOOD GLUCOSE AMONG ROMA IN BULGARIA

Abstract

Roma communities suffer from higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and related impairments and limitations in daily activities. Purpose of the article is to study and analyze health risk factors: body mass index, blood pressure and blood glucose among the Roma population in small cities in Bulgaria. Material/Methods: In May 2015, a community-based approach was applied, and all adult residents of the Roma neighborhood of the town of Knezha, district of Pleven, were invited to participate. Only the persons who agreed to participate (59) or about 9% of the adult residents of Roma origin are included. By measuring BMI, blood pressure and blood glucose, the collection of primary data was done. The statistical processing of the data with Microsoft Office Excel 2010 and STATGRAPHICS-19 centurion software packages was performed. The significance of the results and conclusions was determined at p<0.05. Results: The Roma population is characterized by an unfavorable risk constellation and a health profile. Over two thirds (77.1%) of the participants in the study have BMI values above the normal. There is a high relative share of people with hypertension – 42.3% of Roma people covered. Elevated levels of blood sugar were found in almost 40% of the people observed: in equal relative shares are presented the persons with impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetic) and diabetes mellitus – respectively 18.7%. Conclusions: The study found a wide distribution of unhealthy factors of lifestyle among Roma population, and particularly alarming results are established regarding to the health of the Roma women.