title: Access of Roma to sexual and reproductive health services: qualitative findings from Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore access of Roma in South-Eastern Europe to sexual and reproductive health services. We conducted 7 focus group discussions with a total of 58 participants from Roma communities in Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia. Our study revealed a number of barriers for Roma when accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Among the most important were the overall lack of financial resources, requests by health care providers for informal payments, lack of health insurance and geographical barriers. Health systems in the region seem to have failed to provide financial protection and equitable services to one of the most vulnerable groups of society. There is also a need for overcoming racial discrimination, improving awareness and information and addressing gender inequalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Studies, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. manuela.colombini@lshtm.ac.uk
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombini
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rechel
authors.forename: Susannah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mayhew
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000415:Albania; D002031:Bulgaria; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D017048:Health Care Costs; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia; D006178:Romani People / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult