Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(2):135-138 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3711

Excess Winter Mortality of Roma Population in Serbia, 1992-2007

Liljana M. Blagojević1, Dragan C. Bogdanović2, Sladjana J. Jović3, Zoran G. Milošević3, Zana Ć. Dolićanin2
1 Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Niš, Serbia
2 Department for Biochemical and Medical Sciences, The State University of Novi Pazar, Serbia
3 Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Serbia

Objectives: Seasonal fluctuations in mortality are associated with age, outdoor temperature, influenza, health care provision, lifestyle risk factors and economic factors. In the Republic of Serbia almost one half of the Roma population lives in poverty and their housing conditions are very poor. The aim of this paper is to describe and compare excess winter mortality (EWM) in Roma and non-Roma population in Serbia from 1992 to 2007.

Methods: Using the national mortality database, this study compares EWM index and rates in Roma and general populations in Serbia. Mean winter temperature and ethnicity are analysed against the results for relative EWM by multiple linear regression adjusted for age.

Results: Frequency analysis showed that Roma population had significantly higher EWM rate per 10,000 (129.2 vs. 76.6) for all causes, all respiratory diseases (26.5 vs. 8.0), and chronic lower respiratory diseases (23.0 vs. 5.2) in comparison to non-Roma population. Influenza and pneumonia related deaths represented a small proportion of EWM in both populations. Cardiovascular EWM rate was slightly higher among non-Roma population. Regression analysis demonstrates that Roma ethnicity was associated with significant increase of respiratory EWM rate (regression coefficient (B)=1.49; 95% CI: 0.45-2.54). There was no relationship between ethnicity and cardiovascular and all causes EWM rates.

Conclusions: Although both Roma and non-Roma populations in Serbia suffer from very high rates of excess winter mortality, Roma are significantly more vulnerable. EWM rate from chronic lower respiratory diseases is more than four times higher among Roma people and suggests that they represent one of the most important health problems in Roma population in Serbia.

Keywords: Roma population, winter, mortality, respiratory diseases, housing conditions

Received: August 15, 2011; Revised: February 17, 2012; Accepted: February 17, 2012; Published: June 1, 2012  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Blagojević LM, Bogdanović DC, Jović SJ, Milošević ZG, Dolićanin ZĆ. Excess Winter Mortality of Roma Population in Serbia, 1992-2007. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2012;20(2):135-138. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a3711. PubMed PMID: 22966739.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Healy JD. Excess winter mortality in Europe: a cross country analysis identifying key risk factors. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003 Oct;57(10):784-9. Go to original source...
    2. Laake K, Sverre JM. Winter excess mortality: a comparison between Norway and England plus Wales. Age Ageing. 1996 Sep;25(5):343-8. Go to original source...
    3. Clinch JP, Healy JD. Housing standards and excess winter mortality. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2000 Sep;54(9):719-20. Go to original source...
    4. Barnard LF, Baker MG, Hales S, Howden-Chapman PL. Excess winter morbidity and mortality: do housing and socio-economic status have an effect? Rev Environ Health. 2008 Jul-Sep;23(3):203-21. Go to original source...
    5. Lawlor DA, Maxwell R, Wheeler BW. Rurality, deprivation, and excess winter mortality: an ecological study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2002 May;56(5):373-4. Go to original source...
    6. Ferriman A. Excess winter deaths linked to temperatures in cold homes. BMJ. 2001 Nov 24;323(7323):1207. Go to original source...
    7. Aylin P, Morris S, Wakefield J, GrossinhoA, Jarup L, Elliott P. Temperature, housing, deprivation and their relationship to excess winter mortality in Great Britain, 1986-1996. Int J Epidemiol. 2001 Oct;30(5):1100-8. Go to original source...
    8. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Living standards measurements study, Serbia 2002-2007. Belgrade: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia; 2008.
    9. Bjeloglav D, David H, Krstic G, Matkovic G. LSMS Project 2002-2003: Life in Serbia through the survey data. Belgrade: Strategic Marketing; 2007.
    10. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia; Strategic Marketing Research Agency. Serbia multiple indicator cluster survey: final report. Belgrade: UNICEF; 2007.
    11. Bogdanović D, Nikić D, Petrović B, Kocić B, Jovanović J, Nikolić M, et al. Mortality of Roma population in Serbia, 2002-2005. Croat Med J. 2007 Oct;48(5):720-6.
    12. OXFAM. Roma health: final report. Belgrade: Oxfam; 2003.
    13. Institute of Public Health of Serbia. Health of population of Serbia: analytical study 1997-2007 [Internet]. Belgrade: Institute of Public Health of Serbia; 2009 [cited 2011Aug 4].Available from: http://www.batut.org.rs/download/publikacije/Health%20of%20population%201997-2007.pdf.
    14. Gourgoulianis KI, Tsoutsou P, Fotiadou N, Samaras K, Dakis D, Molyvdas PA. Lung function in Gypsies in Greece. Arch Environ Health. 2000 Nov-Dec;55(6):453-4. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    15. Krajcovicova-Kudlackova M, Blazicek P, Spustova V, Valachovicova M, Ginter E. Cardiovascular risk factors in young Gypsy population. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2004;105(7-8):256-9. Go to PubMed...
    16. Petek D, Rotar Pavlic D, Svab I, Lolić D.Attitudes of Roma toward smoking: qualitative study in Slovenia. Croat Med J. 2006 Apr;47(2):344-7. Go to PubMed...

    Return to the content