Are Gypsy Roma Traveller communities indigenous and would identification as such better address their public health needs?

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2019.02.020

Public Health

Volume 176, November 2019, Pages 43-49

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2019.02.020 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
Gypsy Roma Travellers are not currently recognised as indigenous, but could be.
•
These communities have distinct cultural practices and experience colonisation.
•
These communities have higher mortality, morbidity and infant mortality.
•
Public health strategies are not addressing this; thus, new ways are needed.

Abstract

Introduction

Across Europe, large numbers of Gypsy Roma Traveller communities experience significant health inequities such as higher morbidity, mortality and infant mortality. This health inequity is perpetuated by wider determinants such as a lower social status, lower educational attainment and substandard accommodation. This is not dissimilar to other indigenous peoples, even though many Gypsy Roma Traveller communities are not identified as indigenous.

Methods

This article presents contemporary literature and research alongside the internationally agreed principles of indigenous peoples, examining similarities between Gypsy Roma Traveller communities and other indigenous peoples.

Results

We argue that Gypsy Roma Traveller communities could be recognised as indigenous in terms of the internationally agreed principles of indigeneity and shared experiences of health inequity, colonisation and cultural genocide. Doing so would enable a more robust public health strategy and development of public health guidelines that take into account their cultural views and practices.

Conclusion

Recognising Gypsy Roma Traveller communities in this way is important, especially concerning public health, as formal recognition of indigeneity provides certain rights and protection that can be used to develop appropriate public health strategies. Included within this are more nuanced approaches to promoting health, which focus on strengths and assets rather than deficit constructs that can perpetuate problematising of these communities.

Access through your organization

Check access to the full text by signing in through your organization.

Access through your organization

Section snippets

Human rights and indigeneity

The human rights movement¹ has supported legal and political recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples. Muncan describes human rights as the ‘inherent, equal, and irrevocable freedoms of the individual and includes access to the basic necessities of life, freedom of expression, right to justice, and state of peace’.² In accepting this, the synergies between the indigenous and human rights movements are clear. However, there are also risks associated with linking rights of indigenous

Public health approaches with Gypsy Roma Travellers: the need to move towards an indigenous approach

Within the past 20 years, both community empowerment and capacity building have been key public health strategies aimed at addressing health inequalities;⁴⁶ however, a systematic review by McFadden et al.⁴⁷ identified a lack of evidence regarding public health interventions specifically focussed on improving access to and engagement with health services for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Axelsson et al.³⁴ argue public health responses for indigenous people's health have been variable,

Nurses—bridging public health practice to Gypsy Roma Traveller communities?

Recognition of Gypsy Roma Traveller communities as indigenous would not only impact practice at strategic levels but also can enhance practice at local levels. Nurses are the largest professional health workforce in the UK⁵⁰ and have a key role in ensuring health access and promoting health. They are often the first, and indeed maybe the only, health professional who some people see. This places nurses in the unique position to be potentially part of local communities, recognising and

Conclusion

Gypsy Roma Traveller communities are socially marginalised and experience high levels of health burden evident in their health inequities. While Gypsy Roma Travellers are diverse groupings of people, we argue they have similar experiences as other indigenous peoples globally who have been subjected to enforced changes in their lifestyles that have contributed to negative impacts on their health and well-being. Using the cultural distinctiveness and difference criteria set by the UN,⁷ we argue

Acknowledgements

The first author would like to thank the staff at Taupua Waiora Centre for Maori Health Research for making her feel some welcome during her stay.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was not required, as this was not an empirical project rather it was a personal development award to expand knowledge and understanding.

Funding

Dr. Vanessa Heaslip would like to thank the Sandra Charitable Trust and the Florence Nightingale Foundation who awarded her travel scholarship.

Competing interests

None declared

References (50)

I. Mendizabal et al.
Reconstructing the population history of European Romani from genome-wide data
Curr Biol
(2012)
C. Kelleher et al.
Socio-demographic, environmental, lifestyle and psychosocial factors predict self-rated health in Irish Travellers, a minority nomadic population
Health Place
(2012)
J. Mende
The imperative of indigeneity: indigenous human rights and their limits
Hum Rights Rev
(2015)
B. Muncan
Eastern European Roma: ethnic discrimination in the public healthcare system
J Glob Health Rep
(2018)
O. Mazel
Indigenous health and human rights: a reflection on law and culture
Int J Environ Res Public Health
(2018)
S. Barnabas
Abuja peoples of Nigeria as indigenous peoples in international law
Int J Minor Group Rights
(2018)
P. Thornberry
Indigenous peoples and human rights
(2005)
L. Wang
The definition of indigenous peoples and its applicability in China
Int J Minor Group Rights
(2015)
United Nations
The concept of Indigenous Peoples; workshop on the data collection and disaggregation for indigenous peoples
V. Heaslip
Experiences of vulnerability from a Gypsy/Travelling perspective: a phenomenological study
(2015)

European Commission

Communication from the commission to the council, the European Parliament, the European economic and social committee and the committee of the regions

(2010)

Council of Europe

Descriptive glossary of terms relating to Roma issues

(2012)

E. Gilbert et al.

Genomic insights into the population structure and history of the Irish Travellers

Sci Rep

(2017)

S. Reith

Representing traveller identity from within: negotiating diversity and belonging in Scotland

Int J Divers Organ Commun Nation

(2008)

S. Abdalla et al.

Disparities in fatal and non-fatal injuries between Irish Travellers and the Irish general population are similar to those of other indigenous minorities: a cross-sectional population-based comparative study

BMJ Open

(2012)

E. Kenny

Travellers recognised as an ethnic group within the Irish nation

(2017)

E. Luna-Firebaugh

American Indians and the Pavee of Ireland; the struggle for self-determination through fair and accountable police services

Am Indian Q

(2013)

E. Vincze

The racialization of Roma in the ‘new’ Europe and the political potential of Romani women

Eur J Wom Stud

(2014)

M. Goodwin

The Romani claim to non-territorial nation status: recognition from an international legal perspective

(2018)

S. Holloway

Outsiders in rural society? Constructs of rurality and nature – society relations in the racialisation of English Gypsy-Travellers, 1869-1934

Environ Plan

(2003)

A. Schneeweis et al.

“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves”: examining representations of roma culture in 70 Years of American television

Journal Mass Commun Q

(2017)

T. Delauney

2013. Fractured culture: educare as a healing approach to indigenous trauma

Int J Sci Soc

(2013)

J. Shantz

2010. ‘The foundation of our community’: cultural restoration, reclaiming children and youth in an indigenous community

J Soc Welf Fam Law

(2010)

A. Khan et al.

Weeping of the forest: unheard voices of Garo Adivasi in Bangladesh

Int J Minor Group Rights

(2012)

P. Swift

2013. Changing ethnic identities among the Kuy in Cambodia: assimilation, reassertion and the making of Indigenous identity

Asia Pac Viewp

(2013)

Cited by (7)

Perinatal health outcomes of women from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities: A systematic review
2024, Midwifery
Citation Excerpt :
The GRT community are a traditional, seldom-heard population with high levels of unemployment, sub-standard housing, lack of education and skills, and high deprivation, which are significant public health issues (Heaslip et al., 2019). They have also been subject to discrimination, including forceful attempts at changing their way of life (EUAFR, 2017; Heaslip et al., 2019). Health data across Europe show that GRTs are associated with much poorer health outcomes, including poor maternal health outcomes, lower life expectancy and higher child mortality, compared to the majority or national population (Cook et al., 2013; Koupilová et al., 2001; Rattigan et al., 2022).
GRT communities are disadvantaged minority groups in Europe and experience some of the poorest health outcomes, including maternal and child health. This systematic review aimed to assess the maternal, perinatal and infant health outcomes of women from GRT communities and the factors associated with the reported outcomes.
Database searches were conducted from inception to June 2023 in 4 bibliographic databases supplemented with an additional Google Scholar search. Studies with quantitative data on maternal outcomes published in English were considered. A narrative synthesis was performed, and data were presented in text, figures and tables.
Forty-five studies from 13 European countries were included. Outcome factors related to mothers showing low healthcare engagement, high fertility rates and shorter gestation periods among GRT women. Child wantedness was also noted to influence pregnancy completeness, which included abortion and miscarriage. More negative infant outcomes were seen in GRT infants than non-GRT infants; this included higher preterm births, lower birth weight, higher rates of intrauterine growth restriction and infant mortality. Risk factors of poorer maternal outcomes were early reproduction, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, deprivation, poor nutrition and perinatal care.
This review provides evidence that GRT women and children experience more negative outcomes than general populations. It also highlights the gaps in ethnicity and health inequalities more broadly. The significant importance of this research is the need for increased focus on reducing health inequalities, especially among the GRT community.
Over and back again: Reflections on inhabiting the paradoxical role of insider researcher during COVID-19
2024, Ethnographic Methods in Gypsy Roma and Traveller Research Lessons from A Time of Crisis
The Relationship Between Cultural Engagement and Psychological Well-being Among Indigenous Adolescents: A Systematic Review
2023, Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology
Minority ethnic prisoners and the COVID-19 lockdown: Issues, impacts and implications
2022, Minority Ethnic Prisoners and the Covid 19 Lockdown Issues Impacts and Implications
Culturally Sensitive Care in the Neonatal Setting to Infants Born to Parents From the Traveler Community: An Exploration of the Perspectives of Neonatal Staff
2020, Journal of Transcultural Nursing
The haka: Wonderful bonding, sending a challenge in a global crisis or merely cultural appropriation?
2020, Journal of Clinical Nursing

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Themed Paper– Original ResearchAre Gypsy Roma Traveller communities indigenous and would identification as such better address their public health needs?

Highlights

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Access through your organization

Section snippets

Human rights and indigeneity

Public health approaches with Gypsy Roma Travellers: the need to move towards an indigenous approach

Nurses—bridging public health practice to Gypsy Roma Traveller communities?

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Ethical approval

Funding

Competing interests

Curr Biol

Health Place

The imperative of indigeneity: indigenous human rights and their limits

Hum Rights Rev

Eastern European Roma: ethnic discrimination in the public healthcare system

J Glob Health Rep

Indigenous health and human rights: a reflection on law and culture

Int J Environ Res Public Health

Abuja peoples of Nigeria as indigenous peoples in international law

Int J Minor Group Rights

Indigenous peoples and human rights

The definition of indigenous peoples and its applicability in China

Int J Minor Group Rights

The concept of Indigenous Peoples; workshop on the data collection and disaggregation for indigenous peoples

Experiences of vulnerability from a Gypsy/Travelling perspective: a phenomenological study

Communication from the commission to the council, the European Parliament, the European economic and social committee and the committee of the regions

Descriptive glossary of terms relating to Roma issues

Genomic insights into the population structure and history of the Irish Travellers

Sci Rep

Representing traveller identity from within: negotiating diversity and belonging in Scotland

Int J Divers Organ Commun Nation

Disparities in fatal and non-fatal injuries between Irish Travellers and the Irish general population are similar to those of other indigenous minorities: a cross-sectional population-based comparative study

BMJ Open

Travellers recognised as an ethnic group within the Irish nation

American Indians and the Pavee of Ireland; the struggle for self-determination through fair and accountable police services

Am Indian Q

The racialization of Roma in the ‘new’ Europe and the political potential of Romani women

Eur J Wom Stud

The Romani claim to non-territorial nation status: recognition from an international legal perspective

Outsiders in rural society? Constructs of rurality and nature – society relations in the racialisation of English Gypsy-Travellers, 1869-1934

Environ Plan

“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves”: examining representations of roma culture in 70 Years of American television

Journal Mass Commun Q

2013. Fractured culture: educare as a healing approach to indigenous trauma

Int J Sci Soc

2010. ‘The foundation of our community’: cultural restoration, reclaiming children and youth in an indigenous community

J Soc Welf Fam Law

Weeping of the forest: unheard voices of Garo Adivasi in Bangladesh

Int J Minor Group Rights

2013. Changing ethnic identities among the Kuy in Cambodia: assimilation, reassertion and the making of Indigenous identity

Asia Pac Viewp

Themed Paper– Original Research
Are Gypsy Roma Traveller communities indigenous and would identification as such better address their public health needs?