The impact of ethnicity and the degree of integration/segregation of Roma ethnicity on anthropometric parameters in their newborns, born in northeastern Slovakia

Česká verzia

Authors: S. Mrosková ¹; A. Schlosserová ¹; J. Kovaľ ^1,2; M. Reľovská ¹
Authors place of work: Prešovská univerzita, Fakulta zdravotníckych odborov, Prešov, Slovensko ¹; Fakultná nemocnica J. A. Reimana, Klinika pediatrie, Prešov, Slovensko ²
Published in the journal: Čes-slov Pediat 2019; 74 (6): 359-365.
Category: Original Papers

Summary

Introduction: For the long-term, the Roma newborns have lower values on anthropometric parameters – predominantly birth weight. The degree of social and spatial integration or, the segregation of Roma pregnant women influences their way of life, and thus could secondary determine the anthropometric data of their children.

Objective: To analyze the influence of ethnicity and the degree of integration/segregation of Roma  ethnicity on anthropometric parameters in newborns.

Methods: A retrospective collection of data from health records was carried out in the years 2013–2015 in children born in the Prešov Self-Governing Region. The following parameters included: birth weight (g), length (cm), head circumference (cm) and chest circumference (cm). Roma newborns were categorized into 3 groups: integrated, semiintegrated, segregated. The Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analysis. We included 5459 newborns born in 37–42 weeks of gestation, of which 1721 (31.5 %) were Roma. In the group of Roma newborns, segregated Roma children dominated (n=1455, 26.7%). The worst parameters were recorded in a subgroup of segregated Roma newborns.

Results: We found significantly lower values of all anthropometric parameters in Roma newborns compared to non-Roma children. Increasing integration rates have a positive impact on the anthropometric data of infants at birth. The largest differences were found among a group of non-Roma and Roma children (birth weight: 460.8 g, length: 2.3 cm, head circumference: 1.6 cm, chest circumference: 1.2 cm), and between non-Roma newborns and an integrated Roma children (birth weight: 386.5 g, length: 2.0 cm, head circumference: 1.4 cm, chest circumference: 1.0 cm).

Conclusions: The anthropometry of integrated Roma children is likely to have a greater impact the genetics - the influence of ethnicity, the decreasing values of anthropometry in segregated newborns, apart from genetics, are also influenced by environmental factors.

Keywords:

newbord – anthropometry – Roma ethnicity – social integration

Zdroje

1. Haasová G, Špilka J. Prešovský kraj v číslach 2018. Bratislava: Štatistický úrad SR, 2018: 1–53.

2. Šprocha B, Ďurček P. Rómovia na Slovensku v sčítaniach obyvateľov 1980–2011. Bratislava: INFOSTAT – Výskumné demografické centrum, 2017: 1–121.

3. Kuchta M, Kovaľ J, Reváková I, et al. Niektoré aspekty úmrtnosti detí na východnom Slovensku. Čes-slov Pediat 2008; 63 (10): 535–541.

4. Kovaľ J, Kuchta M. Analýza príčin a dynamika úmrtnosti u deti vo východoslovenskom regióne. Lek Obzor 2013; 7–8: 268–273.

5. Rimárová K, Ostró A, Kovaľ J. Základné diferencie v zdravotných determinantoch medzi rómskou a nerómskou populáciou – výsledky EU MEHO projektu – WP 10. In: Životné podmienky a zdravie. Bratislava: ÚVZ SR, 2009: 252–257.

6. Mušinka A, et al. Atlas rómskych komunít na Slovensku 2013. Bratislava: Regionálne centrum Rozvojového programu OSN pre Európu a Spoločenstvo nezávislých štátov v Bratislave, 2014: 1–122.

7. Šupínová M, Hegyi L, Klement C. Zdravotný stav Rómov na Slovensku. Hygiena 2015; 60 (3): 116–119.

8. Šuvada M. Rómovia v slovenských mestách. Bratislava: POMS, 2015: 1–168.

9. Filadelfiová J, Porubänová S. Kontext a okolnosti vybraných aspektov zdravia a reprodukčného zdravia rómskych žien. Bratislava: Inštitút pre výskum práce a rodín, 2012: 1–80.

10. Ferák V, Siváková D, Siegelová Z. Slovenskí Rómovia – populácia s najvyšším koeficientom inbrídingu v Európe. Bratisl lek Listy 87; 1987: 168–175.

11. Mačeková S, Klobušovská I, Boroňová I, et al. Polymorfný variant génu ZBTB17 ako rizikový faktor kardiomyopatií a jeho frekvencia v Rómskej populácii z východného Slovenska. Slov Antropol 2017; 20 (1): 7–11.

12. Kovaľ J, Mrosková S, Schlosserová A. Natality and infant mortality in Roma children in the Prešov region. Medycyna srodowiskowa 2012; 15 (2): 92–101.

13. Bartošovič I, Hegyi L. Zdravotné problémy rómskeho etnika. Lek Obzor 2010; č. 4.

14. Bernasovská J, Bernasovský I, Pačin J. Anthropometric studies of Romany (Gypsy) newborn in east Slovakia delivered within 1991–1992. J Hum Ecol 1998; 9(2): 131–135.

15. Duranková S, Bernasovský I, Kyselá M, et al. Antropometrická charakteristika rómskych novorodencov. Čes Antropol 2016; 66 (1): 15–18.

16. Rambousková J, Dlouhý P, Krízová E, et al. Health behaviors, nutritional status, and anthropometric parameters of Roma and non-Roma mothers and their infants in the Czech Republic. J Nutr Educ Behav 2009; 41 (1): 58–64.

17. Bobak M, Dejmek J, Solansky I, et al. Unfavourable birth outcomes of the Roma women in the Czech Republic and the potential explanations: a population-based study. BMC Public Health 2005 Oct 10; 5: 106.

18. Balázs P, Rákóczi I, Grenczer A, Foley KL. Risk factors of preterm birth and low birth weight babies among Roma and non-Roma mothers: a population-based study. Eur J Public Health 2013; 23 (3): 480–485.

19. Balázs P, Rákóczi I, Grenczer A, Foley KL. Birth-weight differences of Roma and non-Roma neonates – public health implications from a population-based study in Hungary. Cent Eur J Public Health 2014; 22 (1): 24–28.

20. Stanković S, Živić S, Ignjatović A, et al. Comparison of weight and length at birth of non-Roma and Roma newborn in Serbia. Int J Public Health 2016; 61 (1): 69–73.

21. Walfisch A, Nikolovski S, Talevska B, Hallak M. Fetal growth restriction and maternal smoking in the Macedonian Roma population: a causality dilemma. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2013; 287 (6): 1131–1136.

22. Vestník MZ SR 2012, roč. 60, čiastka 42.

23. Madan A, Holland S, Humbert JE, Benitz WE. Racial differences in birth weight of term infants in a northern California population. J Perinatol 2002; 22 (3): 230–235.

24. Filadelfiová J. Situačná analýza vybraných aspektov životnej úrovne domácností vylúčených rómskych osídlení. Bratislava: Regionálne centrum Rozvojového programu OSN pre Európu a Spoločenstvo nezávislých štátov v Bratislave, 2013.

25. Rimárová K. Prierez výsledkov štúdií zdravia rómskej populácie v oblasti reprodukčného zdravia. In: Životné podmienky a zdravie. Bratislava: Úrad verejného zdravotnictva, 2010: 435–441.

26. Heindel JJ, Vandenberg LN. Developmental origins of health and disease: a paradigm for understanding disease cause and prevention. Curr Opin Pediatr 2015; 27 (2): 248–253.

27. Singh G, Chouhan R, Sidhu K. Maternal factors for low birth weight babies. Med J Armed Forces India 2009; 65 (1): 10–12.

28. Samohýl M, Rams R, Hirošová K, et al. Význam výživy v tehotenstve. In: Životné podmienky a zdravie. Bratislava: Úrad verejného zdravotnictva, 2015: 162–170.

29. Šupínová M. Reprodukčné zdravie ako problém sociálne slabých a vylúčených skupín. 1. vyd. Zvolen: Technická univerzita vo Zvolene, 2011.