Socioeconomic Characteristics, Health Risk Factors and Alcohol Consumption among the Homeless in North-Eastern Part of Poland

Romaszko, Jerzy; Kuchta, Robert D.; Opalach, Cezary; Bertrand-Bucińska, Anna; Romaszko, Anna Maria; Giergielewicz-Januszko, Beata; Buciński, Adam

doi:10.21101/cejph.a4464

Cited by 14 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…It is a serious problem especially during late autumn and in winter when the temperature is below 0°C, which poses a threat to their health and lives. Romaszko et al point out that the problem is growing with the number of people drinking alcohol (78.5% in Poland), making them sensitive to hypothermia (7). Unfortunately, it is often caused by addiction maintained due to the fear of the effects of withdrawal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment to access to social and medical help- for homeless people in Cracow in the context to health problems

Mirek¹,

Ruta²,

Suchmiel³

et al. 2019

Przegl Epidemiol

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INTRODUCTION. Although homelessness is a worldwide problem also present in Poland and the Małopolska region, the data about it are not sufficient. AIM OF THE STUDY. Assessment of the general situation in Cracow and help options for homeless people. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A survey study conducted in 11 places offering refuge to homeless people in Cracow. RESULTS. In Cracow, there were 691 places to sleep in 11 institutions. Nine out of 11 were open all year long and most of them were available only for men. Five institutions offered meals, all of them had bathrooms, 7 places provided medical help. DISCUSSION. The expected number of homeless people in Poland and in Cracow seems to be underestimated. Basic needs of homeless people remain unsatisfied which decreases the possibility of transitioning out of homelessness. CONCLUSIONS. Help available for homeless people in Cracow needs improvements in all of the areas examined

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Romaszko i wsp. wskazują, iż problem z otrzymaniem noclegu rośnie wraz z liczbą osób pijących alkohol (78,5% w Polsce), co czyni je wrażliwymi na hipotermię (7). Niestety, często jest to spowodowane uzależnieniem utrzymywanym przez strach przed skutkami wycofania.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Assessment to access to social and medical help- for homeless people in Cracow in the context to health problems

Mirek¹,

Ruta²,

Suchmiel³

et al. 2019

Przegl Epidemiol

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“…Although American and West European authors indicate evident over-representation of racial and ethnic minorities among the homeless, this is not observed in Central European countries, slightly less attractive as the target for emigration [6]. Moreover, the homeless described by American and West European authors are generally slightly younger than those reported by researchers from Central and Eastern Europe [7, 8]. This seems to be related to the etiology of homelessness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This correlation is also noticeable in Poland, where the homeless subpopulation is evidently older and definitely more often dependent on alcohol than drugs. In a study conducted in Olsztyn, Poland, Romaszko et al estimated the percentage of the homeless addicted to alcohol at more than 78%, and the average age of the studied group at 55 years of age [8]. These values suggest that statistically rates of early mortality should be rather smaller than larger as compared to data obtained in the West.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality among the homeless: Causes and meteorological relationships

et al. 2017

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BackgroundThe homeless constitute a subpopulation particularly exposed to atmospheric conditions, which, in the temperate climate zone, can result in both cold and heat stress leading to the increased mortality hazard. Environmental conditions have become a significant independent risk factor for mortality from specific causes, including circulatory or respiratory diseases. It is known that this group is particularly prone to some addictions, has a shorter life span, its members often die of different causes than those of the general population and may be especially vulnerable to the influence of weather conditions.Materials and methodsThe retrospective analysis is based on data concerning 615 homeless people, out of which 176 died in the analyzed period (2010–2016). Data for the study was collected in the city of Olsztyn, located in north-east Poland, temperate climatic zone of transitional type. To characterize weather conditions, meteorological data including daily minimum and maximum temperatures and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) were used.ResultsThe average life span of a homeless person was shorter by about 17.5 years than that recorded for the general population. The average age at death of a homeless male was 56.27 years old (SD 10.38), and 52.00 years old (SD 9.85) of a homeless female. The most frequent causes of death were circulatory system diseases (33.80%). A large number of deaths were attributable to smoking (47.18%), whereas a small number was caused by infectious diseases, while a relatively large proportion of deaths were due to tuberculosis (2.15%). Most deaths occurred in the conditions of cold stress (of different intensity). Deaths caused by hypothermia were thirteen-fold more frequently recorded among the homeless than for the general population. A relative risk of death for a homeless person even in moderate cold stress conditions is higher (RR = 1.84) than in thermoneutral conditions.ConclusionsOur results indicate excessive mortality among the homeless as well as the weak and rather typical influence of atmospheric conditions on mortality rates in this subpopulation, except for a greater risk of cold related deaths than in the general population. UTCI may serve as a useful tool to predict death risk in this group of people.

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“…In the city of Olsztyn, Poland, for example, a census of the street population was carried out in 2013, which showed that the majority of the individuals (93%) were male, had a mean age of 54 years, were dependent alcohol (79%), smoker (85%), low education, and almost one-third (33%) stated that they occasionally starved, and the main source of food was meals offered by social services (90%). 4 It is recognized internationally that public policies must take into account the social determinants of health, taking into account all the social factors that may be involved in the process of sickness of the individual and of the population. In this context, the concept of health is understood beyond a biological perspective and one must consider the individual's experience in society and access to the socioeconomic and essential services networks, since the social context and individual life history and the community will influence this process.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinantes sociais, equidade e consultório na rua

Pinto¹,

Fermo

Peiter

et al. 2018

Rev enferm UFPE on line.

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RESUMOObjetivo: apresentar as experiências vividas por uma enfermeira no exercício de suas funções numa equipe de Consultório na Rua. Método: trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, descritivo, tipo relato de experiência, acerca das vivências de uma enfermeira ao atuar em uma equipe de Consultório na Rua. Resultados: vivenciaram-se situações de discriminação da população em situação de rua pela sociedade, incluindo profissionais de saúde, dificuldades de acesso à Rede de Atenção à Saúde por pessoas em situações de rua, injustiças sociais e lacunas entre as políticas públicas existentes e a sua aplicação na prática. Conclusão: evidenciou-se que a atuação da enfermeira no Consultório na Rua submerge a reflexão sobre os determinantes sociais da saúde presentes na população em situação de rua. Necessita-se, face às fragilidades referidas, de investimentos em educação permanente dos profissionais, da efetivação das políticas públicas existentes, do empoderamento do usuário para o exercício da cidadania e de investimentos em estudos nesta área do cuidado. Descritores: Atenção Primária à Saúde; Equidade em Saúde; Determinantes Sociais da Saúde; Vulnerabilidade Social; Pessoas em Situação de Rua; Enfermagem em Saúde Pública.ABSTRACT Objective: to present the experiences lived by a nurse in the exercise of her duties in a team of Doctor's Offices in the Street. Methodo: this is a qualitative, descriptive study, a type of experience report, about the experiences of a nurse while working in a team at the Office. Results: there were situations of discrimination of the population in a street situation by society, including health professionals, difficulties in accessing the Network for Health Care by street people, social injustices and gaps between existing public policies and their application in practice. Conclusion: it was evidenced that the nurse's role in the Street Office submerges the reflection on the social determinants of health present in the street population. It is necessary, given the weaknesses mentioned, of investments in the permanent education of professionals, the implementation of existing public policies, the empowerment of the user to exercise citizenship and investments in studies in this area of care. Descriptors: Primary Health Care; Health Equity; Social Determinants of Health; Social Vulnerability; Homeless Persons; Public Health Nursing.RESUMEN Objetivo: presentar las experiencias vividas por una enfermera en el ejercicio de sus funciones en un equipo de Consultorio en la calle. Método: se trata de un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo, tipo relato de experiencia, acerca de las vivencias de una enfermera al actuar en un equipo de Consultorio en la calle. Resultados: se experimentaron situaciones de discriminación de la población en situación de calle por la sociedad, incluyendo profesionales de salud, dificultades de acceso a la Red de Atención a la Salud por personas en situaciones de calle, injusticias sociales y lagunas entre las políticas públicas existentes y su aplicación en la práctica. Conclusión: se evidenció que la actuación de la enfermera en el Consultorio en la calle sumerge la reflexión sobre los determinantes sociales de la salud presentes en la población en situación de calle. Se necesita, ante las fragilidades referidas, de inversiones en educación permanente de los profesionales, de la efectividad de las políticas públicas existentes, del empoderamiento del usuario para el ejercicio de la ciudadanía y de inversiones en estudios en esta área del cuidado. Descriptores: Atención Primaria de Salud; Equidad en Salud; Determinantes Sociales de la Salud; Vulnerabilidad Social; Personas sin Hogar; Enfermería en Salud Pública.

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Socioeconomic Characteristics, Health Risk Factors and Alcohol Consumption among the Homeless in North-Eastern Part of Poland

Cited by 14 publications

References 19 publications

Assessment to access to social and medical help- for homeless people in Cracow in the context to health problems

Assessment to access to social and medical help- for homeless people in Cracow in the context to health problems

Mortality among the homeless: Causes and meteorological relationships

Determinantes sociais, equidade e consultório na rua

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