Health status of Gypsies and Travellers in England.
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.
Parry
Glenys
G
School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. g.d.parry@sheffield.ac.uk
Van Cleemput
Patrice
P
Peters
Jean
J
Walters
Stephen
S
Thomas
Kate
K
Cooper
Cindy
C
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*