title: Vision and Hearing Health Inequities in the Roma population: A National Cross-Sectional Study in Spain.
abstract: We analyzed vision and hearing health status in the Spanish Roma population compared with the general population and its influence on mental health and social participation. We conducted a Cross-sectional study on Roma population (n = 1.167) compared to general population in Spain (n = 21.007). We analyzed the use of optical and hearing aids, vision and hearing limitations and associations with mental health, diagnosed depression and social participation; through prevalence, odds ratio adjusted by age (AOR), Chi square independence test and contrast of proportions (p < 0.05). The Roma population are more likely to present vision limitations-far sight AOR = 3.76 (3.13-4.55), near sight AOR = 3.18 (2.33-4.35)-, hearing difficulties-AOR = 1.41 (1.15-1.72)-, and lower use of corrective aids than the general population. These findings were associated with poor mental health and lower social participation (p < 0.01). Vision and hearing limitations affect unequally in Spain. Addressing avoidable vision and hearing impairment among Roma population is needed to reduce health inequities.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, 03690, Alicante, Spain. Sergio.latorre@ua.es.|Universidade Lurio, Campus de Marrere, 0301, Nampula, Mozambique. Sergio.latorre@ua.es.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3628-3789
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latorre-Arteaga
authors.affiliation: Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, 03690, Alicante, Spain.|Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, Spain.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 03690, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gil-González
authors.affiliation: Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, 03690, Alicante, Spain.|Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, Spain.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 03690, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vives-Cases
authors.affiliation: Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig. Ap.99 E-03080, 03690, Alicante, Spain.|Department of Sociology, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: La Parra Casado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D006178:Romani People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058992:Social Participation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ethnicity; Health inequities; Roma population; Vision and hearing impairment