Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 19, Issue 6, 2017, Pages 1304-1314

Vision and Hearing Health Inequities in the Roma population: A National Cross-Sectional Study in Spain (Article)

Latorre-Arteaga S.* , Gil-González D. , Vives-Cases C. , La Parra Casado D.
  • a Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, Alicante, 03690, Spain, Universidade Lurio, Campus de Marrere, Nampula, 0301, Mozambique
  • b Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, Alicante, 03690, Spain, Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain, CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Alicante, 03690, Spain
  • c Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, Alicante, 03690, Spain, Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain, CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Alicante, 03690, Spain
  • d Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, Alicante, 03690, Spain, Department of Sociology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain

Abstract

We analyzed vision and hearing health status in the Spanish Roma population compared with the general population and its influence on mental health and social participation. We conducted a Cross-sectional study on Roma population (n = 1.167) compared to general population in Spain (n = 21.007). We analyzed the use of optical and hearing aids, vision and hearing limitations and associations with mental health, diagnosed depression and social participation; through prevalence, odds ratio adjusted by age (AOR), Chi square independence test and contrast of proportions (p < 0.05). The Roma population are more likely to present vision limitations—far sight AOR = 3.76 (3.13–4.55), near sight AOR = 3.18 (2.33–4.35)-, hearing difficulties—AOR = 1.41 (1.15–1.72)-, and lower use of corrective aids than the general population. These findings were associated with poor mental health and lower social participation (p < 0.01). Vision and hearing limitations affect unequally in Spain. Addressing avoidable vision and hearing impairment among Roma population is needed to reduce health inequities. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Health inequities Vision and hearing impairment Ethnicity Roma population

Index Keywords

Eyeglasses spectacles mental health human epidemiology middle aged Odds Ratio statistics and numerical data hearing aid health status Health Surveys ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent Spain female Socioeconomic Factors Roma visual disorder Hearing Disorders Vision Disorders socioeconomics hearing disorder Romani (people) social participation adult utilization Hearing Aids health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84988564452&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-016-0489-9&partnerID=40&md5=81720e9f731a365b7cb5246e3023a5f7
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0489-9
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English