1. Health Barriers in the Roma Women
Community of Thessaloniki
Megan Yuan, Intern
The Dukakis Center for Public and Humanitarian Service
Dr. David Wisner, Executive Director
PURPOSE
To identify barriers to healthcare
access in Roma women communities
in Thessaloniki, and to propose an
educational intervention that will
support Roma women's knowledge
on healthcare and healthcare
access.
METHODOLOGY EVALUATION
➢Discrimination: common theme
between participants of Agia Sofia
and Dendropotamos.
➢Differences seen from the disparity in
education levels and degree of social
integration.
➢Addressing complexity of issues need
to start with literacy and social
engagement.
➢5 of 6 responded that a pamphlet
about lifestyle and diet changes
during pregnancy would be helpful.
➢Pamphlet with pictures will serve as
an educational tool in Agia Sofia.
OUTCOMES
SIGNIFICANCE
Roma: considered one of the most
major ethnic minorities in the
world.
Characterized by: nomadic
lifestyle, social exclusion, and
poverty.
Roma women: more vulnerable
due to rigid gender roles,
oppression, and illiteracy.
Women's health disparities:
a. lack of knowledge about pap and
mammography screening
b. limited visits to the gynecologist
c. limited use of contraception
d. high prevalence of miscarriage
Goals of research:
Investigate causes of health
disparities
Explore contexts in which
health disparities occur
Identify specific health barriers
Open-ended
interviews
Focus Group
Agia Sofia
 6 participants
Ages 35-70
Dendropotamos
4 participants
Ages 14-15
Participative approach:
Allow participants to identify own issues
Contextualize health issues into broader
social problems.
Focus of questions:
1. Female gender role in Roma community
2. Doctor-patient interaction
3. Pregnancy and motherhood
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A special thank you to Dr. David
Wisner, Ruth Sutton, Dr. Maria
Patsarika, Ann-Marie Hill, and the
staff of SolidarityNow for their
encouragement, help, and support.
LIMITATIONS
➢Language barrier
➢Small sample size
➢Interpretivist style
➢Pre-selected participants