Causes of health disadvantages and consequences of stigmatization in the Roma community in Slovakia

Abstract

The paper's primary objective is to explore how Roma individuals' experiences with healthcare services influence their overall attitudes toward health and to uncover their strategies to handle these experiences. The research involved interviews with residents of an Eastern Slovak Roma settlement. Classical qualitative ethnographic methods like semi-structured interviews and participant observation were used. The findings affirmed that due to multidimensional stigmatization and racism, Roma faced numerous negative situations and developed diverse coping strategies. Some maladaptive practices emerged, perpetuated across generations due to various factors. Often, these strategies involved resignation rather than attempts at change, fostering feelings of helplessness and apathy. This dynamic led to delayed preventive healthcare seeking until conditions worsened. What sets this research apart is its focus on theoretically framing Roma health issues in the Slovak context through medical anthropology and sociology rather than simply identifying the root causes.