Abstract
The aim of the study was to explore sexual behaviour and the occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in the population living in Roma settlements compared to the majority population in Slovakia and to assess the association between alcohol use and sexual behaviour within both populations. A cross-sectional population-based Hepa-Meta study was conducted in Slovakia in 2011. The final sample comprised 452 Roma and 403 non-Roma respondents. The occurrence of CT was detected by direct proof of the pathogen by PCR. The association between alcohol use and the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour were assessed using a logistic regression. First intercourse at age 15 or younger was reported by 27.9% of Roma (vs. 4.5% of non-Roma); 93.4% of Roma (vs. 77.9% of non-Roma) used condom inconsistently, 22.8% of Roma (vs. 43.9% of non-Roma) used a condom for protection from unwanted pregnancies and only 8.8% of Roma (vs. 21.8% of non-Roma) due to protection against infectious diseases. However, Roma reported having had five or more sexual partners less often compared to the majority (11.5% of Roma vs. 20.6% of non-Roma). Binge drinking at least once a month was associated with a higher number of sexual partners in both groups, but not with condom non-use. The prevalence of CT infection in the Roma population was higher (3.8%) compared to non-Roma (2.7%); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Our study found no differences in the prevalence of CT infection between Roma and non-Roma despite differences in sexual behaviour. Roma begin their sexual life earlier and have unprotected sex more often, but on the other hand, they seem to be much more restrained in terms of the number of sexual partners compared to the majority population.
Highlights
The Roma population ranks among the largest ethnic minority groups living in Slovakia.According to census data, the number of people who declared themselves as Roma increased from 1.4% (75,802 citizens) in 1991 to 2% (105,738 citizens) in 2011
Our study found no differences in the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection between Roma and non-Roma despite differences in sexual behaviour
Respondents living in Roma settlements in comparison with non-Roma respondents reported significantly more frequently a lower level of educational attainment and being unemployed
Summary
The Roma population ranks among the largest ethnic minority groups living in Slovakia. The number of people who declared themselves as Roma increased from 1.4% (75,802 citizens) in 1991 to 2% (105,738 citizens) in 2011. This, is only about a quarter of the estimated Roma population in Slovakia, which ranges between 8 to 10% 320,000–500,000 Roma citizens) of the country’s total population [1,2]. The territorial distribution of the Roma population in Slovakia is uneven, with eastern Slovakia being among the areas with the highest number of Roma [1,2]. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1579; doi:10.3390/ijerph14121579 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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