Socioeconomic position, gender, and inequalities in self-rated health between Roma and non-Roma in Serbia

Abstract

Roma experience high levels of discrimination and social exclusion. Our objective was to examine differences in self-rated health (SRH) between Roma and non-Roma in Serbia. Using data from the 2007 Living Standards Measurement Survey in Serbia (n = 14,313), we used binomial regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) of poor (SRH) among Roma (n = 267) relative to non-Roma. We additionally conducted group comparisons of combinations of Romani ethnicity, poverty, and gender, relative to the baseline group of non-Roma males not in poverty. Adjusting for age, Roma were more than twice as likely as non-Roma to report poor SRH (RR = 2.3, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.8, 2.8). After adjustment for household consumption, employment, and education, the RR was reduced to 1.6 (95% CI = 1.3, 2.0). Romani women, regardless of whether they were living in poverty or not, experienced the greatest risk of poor SRH, with risks relative to non-Roma males not in poverty of 3.2 (95% CI = 2.3, 4.2) and 3.1 (95% CI = 2.4, 4.0), respectively. Roma in Serbia are at increased risk of poor SRH; Romani women experience the greatest burden of poor SRH.