title: Health status of Gypsies and Travellers in England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide the first valid and reliable estimate of the health status of Gypsies and Travellers in England by using standardised instruments to compare their health with that of a UK resident non-Traveller sample, drawn from different socioeconomic and ethnic groups, matched for age and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiological survey, by structured interview, of quota sample and concurrent age-sex-matched comparators.
  
  
  METHODS
  The homes or alternative community settings of the participants at five study locations in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gypsies and Travellers of UK or Irish origin (n = 293) and an age-sex-matched comparison sample (n = 260); non-Gypsies or Travellers from rural communities, deprived inner-city White residents and ethnic minority populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gypsies and Travellers reported poorer health status for the last year, were significantly more likely to have a long-term illness, health problem or disability, which limits daily activities or work, had more problems with mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort and anxiety or depression as assessed using the EuroQol-5D health utility measure, and a higher overall prevalence of reported chest pain, respiratory problems, arthritis, miscarriage and premature death of offspring. No inequality was reported in diabetes, stroke and cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant health inequalities exist between the Gypsy and Traveller population in England and their non-Gypsy counterparts, even when compared with other socially deprived or excluded groups, and with other ethnic minorities.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. g.d.parry@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Glenys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Cleemput
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D006178:Romani People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*