Ethnic and religious differentials in Bulgarian mortality, 1993–98

Abstract

We investigated ethnic/religious mortality differentials in Bulgaria during the 1990s. The analyses employed a unique longitudinal data set covering the entire population of Bulgaria from the census of 1992 until 1998. The mortality of Roma is very high compared to all other ethnic/religious groups. The excess applies to nearly every cause of death examined and is not entirely explained by the adverse location of Roma on social and economic variables. For young men, Muslim mortality is substantially lower than that of non-Muslims when socioeconomic differences are controlled. An analysis of causes of death suggests that lower consumption of alcohol may contribute to this 'Muslim paradox'. For older Muslim women, a significant mortality disadvantage remains after controls are imposed. Suicide mortality is lower for Muslims than for Christian groups of the same ethnicity. Consistent with deteriorating economic conditions over the study period, mortality was rising, particularly for women.

Age trends in prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Roma minority population of Croatia

“…The Roma have a much lower prevalence of arterial hypertension when compared to the general population of Croatia as well as when compared to other EU populations (Zeljko et al, 2008). Since it sharply contrasts otherwise high CVD risk profile, we might name it a ''Roma paradox'', analogously to ''Muslim paradox'' (denoting a lower CVD prevalence due to alcohol abstinence (Kohler and Preston, 2011)). …”

“…For the Roma, those health risks are connected with their low socio-economic status and cultural aspects that shape the lifestyle patterns compromising health-related behaviors (Hujova et al, 2009;Kanapeckiene et al, 2009;Kohler and Preston, 2011;Masseria et al, 2010;Parry et al, 2007;Petek et al, 2006;Rambousková et al, 2009) including psycho-social stress connected with poverty and migration (Misra and Ganda, 2007).…”

“…Rosicova et al (2011) showed that living in Roma settlements indicates an accumulation of socioeconomic disadvantages. The longitudinal study taking place in Bulgaria showed that the mortality of the Roma is very high compared to all other ethnic/religious groups; the excess applies to nearly every cause of death examined and is not entirely explained by the adverse location of the Roma on social and economic variables (Kohler and Preston, 2011). In Serbia mortality is higher in the Roma people compared with the majority population (Bogdanović et al, 2007), while in U.K. being a Gypsy (or Traveller) is associated with even poorer health outcomes than those seen in other ethnic minority groups (Peters et al, 2009).…”

The decline of infant and child mortality among Spanish Gitanos or Calé (1871−2005): A microdemographic study in Andalusia

“…Nevertheless, the decline in infant and child mortality also seems to have occurred in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, which have large and varied Romani populations (see Ladányi and Szlényi 2006;Scheffel 2005;Kohler and Preston 2011;Burlea 2012). However, we do not know much about it, or how these processes have diverged from those occurring among neighboring majority populations.…”

“…For instance, some studies compare mortality rates across a particular country and recurrently find much higher rates of infant mortality in the regions where Roma populations are concentrated (Rychtaříková and Dzúrová 1992: 630) and in urban neighborhoods with a high proportion of Roma residents (Rosicova et al 2011: 526−528). Recently, Kohler and Preston (2011) made an important analysis of differential mortality patterns among religious and ethnic groups in Bulgaria, using nominal data in 1990s' censuses. However, their analyses "were restricted to the noninstitutionalized adult population aged 20 and over" and thus they "avoided potential problems in measuring mortality of children in the census-based data set" (Kohler and Preston 2011: 93).…”