More information
Description
The health of the population in socially excluded communities has been in poor condition for a long time. The reason is not only poor access to health care, but also low awareness of the population about the prevention and symptoms of diseases. The aim of the presented project SASTE ROMA (Healty Romany) is the development and implementation of tools aimed at strengthening the prevention of specific communicable and non-communicable diseases in the Roma community.
Experts from the St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, the Brno University Hospital and the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute will create an online audiovisual educational platform that will provide school children and the adult population with the most important information about early detection of the disease and the right response. In cooperation with the Health Mediators of the State Institute of Public Health, we will create printed and audiovisual information materials and organize cultural and educational events. With these activities, we target children and the adult population.
The SASTE ROMA project will cover the most serious diseases, especially cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, oncological diseases of adults and children, depression and other mental illnesses, lung diseases, diabetes, hypertension and infectious diseases such as hepatitis, TB, COVID-19 and sexually transmitted diseases.
Part of the project is the evaluation of the intervention in terms of feasibility and the effect on increasing health literacy. Through its activities, the project also contributes to the fight against discrimination.
Summary of project results
The project addressed health inequalities that arise in excluded localities e.g. as a result of a lack of knowledge about health. We faced the following challenges:1. Establishing and coordinating a network of experts during COVID-19,2. Acquaintance of non-Roma experts with the specific needs of the target group,3. Provision of medical guarantors,4. Complex internal procedures for awarding public contracts,5. Cooperation with PR agencies that could not effectively target excl. community.
Firstly, a network of experts was assembled and trained – doctors, psychologists, sociologists, PR specialists, health mediators, representatives of NGOs and other experts.
The 10 most relevant health topics were identified and intervention tools were chosen (brochures, leaflets, video clips, educational events etc.). The tools were repeatedly tested within focus groups, in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys, and then implemented. Partner entities were involved as well as the network project´s health mediators.
At the same time, beyond the scope of the project, field research was carried out among 430 clients living in excluded areas. The research focused on finding out information about health behavior, health perception and knowledge about diseases before and after the intervention. Its goal was to evaluate the impact of intervention tools on health behavior change, with the main conclusion being that the use of materials was beneficial for both mediators and clients.
Development and implementation of 12 intervention tools – e.g. health brochures, video clips, mob. app, health events or online campaigns. A total of 84,884 target persons were supported. Media coverage of prevention or field research were another outcome. The interventions raised awareness of prevention and a healthy lifestyle. An unintended effect is the strengthening of community cooperation or discovery of the importance of the individual approach of mediators.
The project contributed to the Program''s goal by creating and applying health-intervention tools aimed at the Roma population in the excl. locations. The methodology enables entities in the CR and abroad to effectively design and implement health strategies aimed at these locations. The tools and knowledge will further be used by mediators and health promotion will continue. A foundation has been created for further research and interventions that can contribute to improving community health.