OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare selected early childhood health risks and health outcomes of children from marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia with those of the majority. METHODS: We obtained cross-sectional data from mother-child dyads from the majority (N = 109) and MRCs (N = 143) via questionnaires and from medical records. Socioeconomic status, health risks and health outcomes were compared using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests in SPSS. RESULTS: Mothers from MRCs reported significantly worse socioeconomic status. Air quality in the households in MRCs was significantly worse, affected by heating with stoves, burning fresh wood and indoor smoking. The diet composition of children from MRCs was characterized by shorter breastfeeding and unhealthy diet composition less fresh fruits and vegetables, more processed meat products, and sweet and salty snacks. Children from MRCs more often suffered from respiratory and diarrheal diseases, used antibiotics and were hospitalized. CONCLUSION: The health and healthy development of children living in MRCs is endangered by various poverty-related factors. Persistent differences in exposures and health in early childhood should be a priority goal of the state's social and health policies.

• MeSH
• dieta MeSH
• hodnocení výsledků zdravotní péče MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• společenská třída MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Limited access to healthcare services leads to lower vaccination rates in marginalized Roma communities (MRCs). This study aimed to explore health system barriers to HPV vaccination faced by people from MRCs from multiple perspectives. METHODS: The qualitative study was conducted in Slovakia in 2021/22 with 43 community members and health professionals. Data were analyzed using a combination of content analysis and consensual qualitative research. RESULTS: A substantial barrier to vaccination is limited coverage of vaccination expenses for certain age categories by health insurance. Moreover, Slovakia faces a significant shortage of healthcare personnel, leading to work overload and a lack of capacity and motivation to address HPV vaccination. Impaired relationships between health care providers and people from MRCs lead to the avoidance of healthcare services, which contributes to insufficient delivery of information and a lack of awareness regarding HPV-related diseases and vaccination. CONCLUSION: Strengthening the capacities of health care providers, expanding the age group covered by health insurance and providing tailored information to people from MRCs are necessary prerequisites to increase the availability of HPV vaccination and enable people to make informed decisions about HPV vaccination.

• MeSH
• dostupnost zdravotnických služeb * MeSH
• infekce papilomavirem * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• vakcíny proti papilomavirům * aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: The period of early childhood bears significant importance from the lifespan perspective. Children from marginalized Roma communities face several risk factors that endanger their early development. Based on the gaps in available evidence, the aim of the RomaREACH research project (Research on Early Childhood in marginalized Roma communities) is, therefore, to explore the complex mechanisms influencing psychomotor development in the first 3 years of a child's life in marginalized Roma communities, and to translate and adapt instruments for measuring development and parenting in marginalized Roma communities and assess their psychometric qualities and suitability METHODS: The project comprises two parts. The first part is a validation study of the translated Caregiver-Reported Early Development Instrument (CREDI) and the Comprehensive Early Childhood Parenting Questionnaire (CECPAQ), tools for the assessment of early development and of parenting strategies and practices. The second part is a longitudinal cohort study, in which the relationships of risk and protective factors with development are explored. DISCUSSION: The RomaREACH project is a multicomponent study of social determinants of health and development in early childhood that can provide new evidence on the relationship of risk and protective factors with early development. Such young children from difficult-to-reach marginalized Roma communities are rarely included in research, and information about the scope and the extent of inequities in health and development in the period of early childhood is scarce. The expected results of the RomaREACH project have the potential to influence policy and practice by providing validated tools and evidence-based insights that can help mitigate the developmental risks faced by children in marginalized Roma communities and contribute to improving developmental outcomes and equity.

• MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• psychometrie metody   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• rodičovství psychologie   MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• sociální determinanty zdraví MeSH
• vývoj dítěte * MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Roma living in marginalized communities often face poor living conditions and material deprivation, which may negatively impact parenting. Our aim is to compare the parenting behavior (support, harsh discipline, and stimulation) of mothers from marginalized Roma communities and the majority population in Slovakia. We also examine the role of socioeconomic disadvantage and related worries in the differences in parenting behavior between these groups. METHODS: We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers of children aged 14-18 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study dataset. Two groups were included in the sample: 93 mothers from MRCs and 102 mothers from the majority. We performed multiple regression and mediation analyses to assess whether the educational level of mothers, the degree of poverty, and poverty-related feelings of stress and worries explain parenting behavior differences between the groups of mothers. RESULTS: We found significant differences in parenting, especially in harsh disciplining and stimulation. These two domains were significantly associated with maternal education, degree of poverty, and poverty-related stress and worries. The degree of poverty partially mediated stimulation differences between the two groups of mothers. CONCLUSION: Parenting in MRCs seems harsher and less stimulative than parenting in the Slovak majority. These differences are associated with the socioeconomic disadvantage of mothers. The degree of poverty partially explains why parenting in MRCs is less stimulative. These results may inform intervention efforts aimed at disadvantaged families.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Roma are the largest and most disadvantaged ethnic minority in Europe often facing generational poverty, and limited access to education, employment, housing, and various types of services. Despite many international and national initiatives, children from marginalized Roma communities face multiple risks and are being disadvantaged as early as from conception onward. We, therefore, aimed to identify measures and/or interventions targeting equity in early childhood health and development in marginalized Roma communities which implementation is considered to be urgent but not feasible. We used a group concept mapping approach-a participatory mixed research method-and involved 40 experts and professionals from research, policy and practice. From 90 measures and interventions proposed to achieve early childhood equity for children from marginalized Roma communities, 23 measures were identified as urgent but not feasible. These concerned particularly measures and interventions targeting living conditions (including access to income, access to housing, and basic infrastructure for families) and public resources for instrumental support (covering mainly topics related to financial and institutional frameworks). Our results reflect the most pressing issues in the area of equality, inclusion and participation of Roma and expose barriers to implementation which are likely to arise from public and political discourses perpetrating a negative image of Roma, constructing them as less deserving. Measures to overcome persistent prejudices against Roma need to be implemented along with the measures targeting equity in early childhood health and development.

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dostupnost zdravotnických služeb MeSH
• etnicita MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• menšiny MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess which measures could improve the healthy early childhood development of children from marginalized Roma communities and to identify priority measures. METHODS: Concept mapping approach was used, using mixed methods. In total 54 professionals, including social workers, educators, health care providers, municipality representatives, and project managers participated in our study. RESULTS: Four distinct clusters of measures targeting living conditions, public resources, healthcare and community interventions, and 27 individual priority measures of highest urgency and feasibility were identified. The cluster 'Targeting living conditions', was rated as the most urgent but least feasible, whereas the cluster 'Targeting health care', was considered least urgent but most feasible. Among the 27 priority measures, 'Planning parenthood' and 'Scaling up existing projects' had the highest priority. CONCLUSION: Our results reflect the public and political discourse and indicate significant barriers to implementation. Reducing inequalities in early childhood needs to be addressed through coordinated efforts.

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• poskytování zdravotní péče MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• sociální pracovníci MeSH
• zdravotní stav MeSH
• zdravotnický personál MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Objectives: This study aims to compare the early childhood mental health of children from marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia with that of the majority and explore possible mediating pathways of mothers' perceived stress and harsh discipline practices. Methods: We used data from the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study collected in 2021-2022. Two populations were included in the sample: 94 mother-child dyads from MRCs and 79 from the majority population (children aged 14-18 months). Data were analysed using linear regression, and mediation was tested using PROCESS Macro in SPSS. Results: Belonging to MRCs vs. the majority, perceived stress of mothers and harsh discipline were found to be associated with early mental health problems in children. Perceived stress of mothers partially mediates the relationship between belonging to MRCs vs. majority and harsh discipline and harsh discipline partially mediates the relationship between perceived stress of mothers and the mental health of children. Conclusion: Mothers from MRCs perceive more stress, which is associated with more frequent use of harsh discipline practices having a negative impact on the mental health of young children.

• MeSH
• duševní zdraví MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• matky psychologie   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• psychický stres epidemiologie   MeSH
• rodičovství * psychologie   MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Roma living in marginalised communities are among the most disadvantaged groups in Slovakia. Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with higher hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), including in parents. The aim of this study is therefore to assess differences in HCC, reflecting the levels of stress, between mothers living in MRCs and from the majority population, to assess the association of socioeconomic disadvantage with HCC, and whether disadvantage mediates the MRC/majority differences in HCC. Participants were mothers of children aged 15-18 months old living in MRCs (N=61) and from the Slovak majority population (N=90). During preventive paediatric visits, visits at community centres and home visits, hair samples and data by questionnaire were collected. HCC differed significantly between mothers living in MRCs and mothers from the majority population, with the mean HCC value being twice as high in mothers living in MRCs (22.98 (95% confidence interval, CI, 15.70-30.30) vs. 11.76 (8.34-15.20), p<0.05). HCC was significantly associated with education, household equipment and household overcrowding, but not with billing, socioeconomic stress and social support. The difference in HCC between mothers living in MRCs and mothers from the majority population was partially mediated by poor house equipment, such as no access to running water, no flushing toilet or no bathroom (the indirect effect of B=7.63 (95% CI: 2.12-13.92)). Practitioners and policymakers should be aware of high stress levels among mothers living in MRCs and aim at enhancing their living and housing conditions.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hydrokortison * analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• matky * psychologie   MeSH
• psychický stres * metabolismus   MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• sociální marginalizace psychologie   MeSH
• sociální opora MeSH
• socioekonomické faktory * MeSH
• socioekonomické nerovnosti ve zdraví MeSH
• vlasy, chlupy * chemie   MeSH
• zranitelné populace psychologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH

Následující práce je založena na sekundární interpretaci rozhovorů, které byly vedeny s experty věnujícími se romským sociálně vyloučeným rodinám při podpoře jejich sociálního fungování. V předloženém příspěvku si klademe za cíl odpovědět na otázku: „Jaké jsou podmínky v romských sociálně vyloučených rodinách s ohledem na možnosti výchovy k růstu (jako předpokladu úspěšné integrace a sociálního začlenění) v pohledu pomáhajících profesionálů?“ V kontextu symbolického interakcionismu předpokládáme, že to, jak experti interpretují rodinný život svých klientů, ovlivňuje rovněž pojetí jejich sociální práce. Proto jsou interpretace expertů cenným předmětem studia. Hovořili jsme zejména se sociálními pracovníky, romskými pedagogickými asistenty, romskými aktivisty a pedagogy. Výsledky výzkumu naznačují, že pozorované rodiny (dle názoru expertů) inklinují k hierarchickému modelu vidění světa. Domníváme se, že provedené rozhovory mohou zdůvodňovat oprávněnost užití modelu růstu v kontextu sociální práce s romskými sociálně vyloučenými rodinami při podpoře jejich rodinného fungování a současně předpokládáme, že tato podpora by mohla být zdrojem pomoci participativního chování členů těchto rodin v širší společnosti.

The following work is based on secondary interpretation of interviews that were conducted with experts committed to the socially excluded Roma families in promoting their social functioning. In this paper, we aim to answer the question: “What are the conditions of Roma in socially excluded families with regard to education opportunities for growth (as a prerequisite for the successfulinte­gration and social inclusion) in the view of helping professionals?“ In the context of symbolic interactionism, we assume that the way how experts interpret family life of their clients also affects the concept of social work. Therefore, the interpretations of experts are a valuable subject of study. We talked mainly with social workers, Roma teaching assistants, Roma activists and educators. The research results suggest that the observed families (in the opinion of experts) tend to a hierarchical model of seeing the world. We believe that our conversations can justify the legitimacy of the use of a growth model in the context of social work with socially excluded Roma families in supporting their family functioning, and at the same time we assume that this support could be a source of help for participative behavior of the members of the families in the wider society.

• MeSH
• integrace do komunity etnologie   psychologie   trendy   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• motivace MeSH
• rodičovství etnologie   psychologie   MeSH
• rodinné vztahy etnologie   MeSH
• Romové * výchova   MeSH
• sociální facilitace MeSH
• sociální marginalizace * MeSH
• sociální práce * metody   trendy   MeSH
• výchova dítěte * etnologie   psychologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH

Štúdia sa kriticky zaoberá diskurzívnymi aktivitami politikov a novinárov, ktorí slúžia ako modely pre imitáciu potvrdzovania, alebo naopak oponovania negatívnym stereotypom voči Rómom. Empiricky overuje tézu, že mediálny marketing politických strán zneužíva diskriminované a marginalizované skupiny na dosahovanie straníckych cieľov. Prostredníctvom kritickej systemickej lingvistiky analyzuje významové štruktúry predvolebného bilbordu, čím odhaľuje intencie komunikácie politickej strany s verejnosťou. Postupmi kritickej diskurzívnej analýzy mediálnych textov o anti-rómskom bilborde autorky identifikujú diskurzívne pozície rozmanitých aktérov, prípadne ich argumentačné stratégie, pričom kriticky reflektujú najmä asymetriu ich mediálnej prezentácie. Popisujú Diskuze / 401 sa spôsoby, akými parlamentná strana SNS implicitne (prostredníctvom bilbordu) a explicitne (vo svojich vyjadreniach) znevažuje celú etnickú skupinu. Z analýzy vyplýva, že hoci médiá uvádzajú názory rôznych diskurzívnych aktérov, v textoch chýba prezentácia argumentov, ktoré by pomohli širokej verejnosti pochopiť, prečo dehonestácia tejto stigmatizovanej skupiny je neprijateľná. Politické zneužívanie „rómskeho problému“ novinári demaskovali, avšak nevysvetlili negatívne dôsledky falošnej etnizácie nezamestnanosti, chudoby a verejnej dehonestácie Rómov.

The study deals critically with discursive activities of politics and newspapermen which serve as models for imitation of confirmation or on the contrary of opposing the negative stereotypes against Roma. The thesis that the media marketing of political parties misuses the discriminated and marginalized groups for achieving the party goals is empirically verified. The meaning structures of pre-election billboard are analyzed by the means of critical systemic linguistics and thus reveals the intentions of communication of political party with the public. The authors identify the discursive positions of diverse participants, alternatively their argumentation strategies, and critically reflect especially the asymmetry of their media presentation by procedures of critical discursive analysis of media texts about the anti-Roma billboard. The ways how the parliament party SNS implicitly (through the billboard) and explicitly (in its statements) discredit the whole ethnic group are described. From the analysis follows that although media present the opinions of different discourse participants, the texts are lacking the presentation of arguments that could help the wide public to understand why the dehonestation of this stigmatized group is unacceptable. The political misuse of „Roma problem“ was unmasked by newspapermen but the negative consequences of false ethnic attribution of unemployment, poverty, and public dehonestation of Roma were not explained.

• Klíčová slova
• kritická diskurzivní analýza, kritická systemická lingvistika, anti-rómský populismus, stereotypy, dehonestace,
• MeSH
• diskriminace (psychologie) etika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lingvistika * MeSH
• rasismus * MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• šíření informací * MeSH
• stereotypizace MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH