Abstract
In this paper, we examine whether variation in reproductive investment affects the health of Roma women using a dataset collected through original anthropological fieldwork among Roma women in Serbia. Data were collected in 2014–2016 in several Roma semi-urban settlements in central Serbia. The sample consisted of 468 Roma women, averaging 44 years of age. We collected demographic data (age, school levels, socioeconomic status), risk behaviors (smoking and alcohol consumption), marital status, and reproductive history variables (the timing of reproduction, the intensity of reproduction, reproductive effort and investment after birth), in addition to self-reported health, height, and weight. Data analyses showed that somatic, short-term costs of reproduction were revealed in this population, while evolutionary, long-term costs were unobservable—contrariwise, Roma women in poor health contributed more to the gene pool of the next generation than their healthy counterparts. Our findings appear to be consistent with simple trade-off models that suggest inverse relationships between reproductive effort and health. Thus, personal sacrifice—poor health as an outcome—seems crucial for greater reproductive success.
Highlights
Despite the fact that reproduction and childrearing appear central to the lives of many Roma women, little is known about any effect that reproduction might have on their health
We address this gap in knowledge using a dataset collected through original anthropological fieldwork conducted among Roma women living in Serbia
The primary aims of this study were to examine the potential costs of reproduction and the effects it has on health among women in several Roma communities in Serbia
Summary
Despite the fact that reproduction and childrearing appear central to the lives of many Roma women, little is known about any effect that reproduction might have on their health. The Roma, a diverse population of South Asian stock, have been living in Europe for centuries but their integration is poor. They remain confined to segregated communities, characterized by poverty, unemployment, poor education, and welfare dependency. Prior studies have shown that Roma communities across Europe tend to have poorer health than the majority population [1,2]. The Roma high birth and mortality rates, impaired health, and shorter life expectancy are usually explained by claiming that they are the consequence of their poverty, low level of education, and socioeconomic status, in addition to inadequate health care and coverage
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