Antenatal characteristics of Roma female population in Virovitica-Podravina County, Croatia

Abstract

IntroductionThis study reports about antenatal characteristics of Roma minority population. The study was designed to investigate data about health behaviours known to be associated with reproductive outcomes of Roma women that have very good living conditions and relatively high resource availability.MethodsA retrospective study included 204 Roma and 408 non-Roma hospitalised singleton births that occurred in the Maternity Ward of the General Hospital Virovitica in the period from 1991 to 2010. Data about women’s age, marital status, smoking, reproductive health (abortions, delivery), antenatal care, perinatal complications and gestational age were taken from hospital records and analysed.ResultsRoma women were averagely more than three years younger than non-Roma women, only 10.8% were married. Smoking was more frequent. The average number of births of Roma and non-Roma women was similar, averagely two children per woman. The rate of induced abortions in the Roma women was higher, while the frequency of spontaneous abortions was equal. Inadequate antenatal care of Roma women was associated with two times higher incidence of perinatal complications. A higher frequency of deliveries at home without professional assistance in Roma pregnancy resulted in lower perinatal outcomes. It was confirmed that Roma mothers give birth earlier (38+6 vs. 39+4 weeks) and have a higher incidence of premature births (9.3% vs. 2.2%).ConclusionsIn the comparison of antenatal parameters between the two researched groups, poorer prenatal outcomes in the Roma population were found, despite full integration and considerable improvement in living standards of this ethnic Roma population.

Maternal Characteristics and Obstetric and Neonatal Outcomes of Singleton Pregnancies Among Adolescents

“…In fact, given that mothers of the adolescent mothers in the current study were also in adolescent age during their first pregnancy, our finding suggests consideration of adolescent marriage and pregnancy as normal by the families of the participating adolescent women. Similarly, high adolescent birth rates among certain populations have been linked to the practice of child marriage to remain prevalent in these communities, where girls often have no choice but to follow tradition, leave school and get married in young age, thus perpetuating a cycle of poor education, poverty and early childbirth [3,27,28].…”

Reproductive health of Roma women in Slovakia

“…Higher perinatal and infant mortality rates and a higher proportion of non-marital (non-partnership) births are reported as well (3,(26)(27)(28).…”

“…The overall frequency of pregnancies and childbirths combined with exhaustion of the body from frequent pregnancy, impaired health of Roma women, inadequate diet, intake of caffeine and alcoholic beverages and consumption of tobacco products during pregnancy worsen the state of reproductive health (24). There is also a lack of knowledge of contraceptive methods and lack of prenatal care (12,19,25,26).…”

Health Differences at Birth between Roma and non‐Roma Children in Hungary: Long‐run Trends and Decomposition

“…; Koval, Mrosková, and Schlosserová ; Rambousková et al. ; Šegregur and Šegregur ; Stanković et al. ) analyze small samples, in selected regions within countries, and usually as single cross sections.…”