Kontakt 2009, 11(1):187-192 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.034

Specific features of the Romany ethnic group as related to providing the health and nursing careOšetřovatelská péče orientovaná na zdraví minorit a subkultur

Dana Šlechtová^*, Olga Bürgerová

Ústav zdravotnických studií Univerzita J. E. Purkyně, Ústí nad Labem

Vyšší odborná škola zdravotnická a Střední škola zdravotnická, Příbram

If we are searching for the way of understanding Romany people in questions concerning their attitude to the life, health and disease or style of life from the position of staff members of helping professions, it is necessary to consider cultural traditions, which affected their lives for centuries and which affect them to a certain extent even at the present time. The contribution deals with problems of factors principally affecting the existence of Romany people in the majority society and playing an important role in providing the culturally differentiated nursing care. Only mutual understanding of specific features of majority and minority societies and subsequent searching for common way in solving the problems can contribute to improving the social and cultural position of Romany people, which will be subsequently also reflected in the field of the health condition and style of life of the Romany population.

Keywords: Romany ethnic group; standpoints; special feature of the style of life; specific features in the attitude of healthcare professionals to clients

Received: October 6, 2008; Accepted: February 5, 2009; Published: May 27, 2009  Show citation