[Ethnic difference in attendance at emergency departments. An approximation to the gypsy reality].
BACKGROUND
Demand for emergency services is increasing, especially among children from non-Caucasian ethnic groups.


OBJECTIVE
To objectify this observation and to determine the healthcare and social differences between the gypsy and Caucasian populations.


METHODS
We performed a descriptive, observational study in the Pediatric Emergency Unit of a tertiary care hospital. Systematic sampling was performed and 420 children were selected. Data on age, sex, compliance with primary healthcare preventive programs, reason for attendance, type of healthcare center, diagnosis and familial characteristics were collected through a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The median age of the patients was 24 months. The percentage of patients of gypsy race was 16.4 %. Most of the gypsy population (68.1 %) attended small, local healthcare centers compared with 34.8 % of the Caucasian population (p 0.0001). Only 58 % of the gypsy children were taken to healthcare centers for regular check-ups compared with 96.7 % of the non-gypsy population (p 0.0001). The percentage of gypsy children who had never being vaccinated was 18.8 %. There were no such cases among the non-gypsy population (p 0.0001). The percentage of gypsy children visiting the emergency unit who were hospitalized was 11.6 % compared with 1.9 % of non-gypsy children. Illiteracy rates were 30.4 % and 15.9 % in gypsy mothers and fathers, respectively, compared with 0.6 % and 0.3 % in non-gypsy mothers and fathers, respectively (p 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals significant differences between the gypsy and Caucasian pediatric populations in terms of healthcare and identifies a group at high health risk.
Sánchez Serrano
F J
FJ
Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital General Universitario, Alicante.
Zubiaur Cantalapiedra
A
A
Herrero Galiana
A
A
Gallart Martínez
M D
MD
Jiménez Yánez
R
R
Sanguino López
L
L
Flores Serrano
J
J
D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006178:Romani People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*