Health status of Gypsy Travellers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Previous studies suggest Gypsy Travellers face poorer health and higher mortality rates.
• Limited epidemiological data exists using validated measures for this nomadic group.
• This study addresses the need for quantitative health status assessment in the Traveller community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the health status of Gypsy Travellers with UK population norms.
• To assess Traveller health using the Euroqol health status measure (EQ-5D).
• To compare Traveller health with a matched, socially deprived resident group.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-seven adult Gypsy Travellers participated.
• Participants were matched by age and sex with residents from an urban general practice in a socially deprived area.
• The Euroqol health status measure (EQ-5D) was administered via interview, with comparisons to UK general population norms.

Main Results:

• Travellers reported poorer health in mobility and activity dimensions compared to settled counterparts.
• Travellers showed significantly poorer health perception on the EQ-5D visual analogue scale compared to the matched group.
• Both Travellers and the comparison group exhibited poorer EQ-5D index scores than UK population norms, even when compared to the lowest socioeconomic group.

Conclusions:

• Gypsy Travellers' health status is significantly poorer than the lowest UK socioeconomic group.
• Health status differences were less pronounced when compared to a matched, socially deprived resident group.
• Poorer health outcomes in Gypsy Travellers were noted in mobility, activity, and overall health perception.
• Quantitative health status assessment within the Traveller community is achievable.