Inequities among Irish Travellers concerning self-rated health of the individual and their community: An analysis of the All Ireland Traveller Health Study

background: The Travellers are an ethic minority in Ireland who experience poorer health outcomes than the general population.  Little is known, though, about social inequalities in health within the Traveller population.  This study explores whether differences in accommodation, cultural value, social support, and experience of discrimination are associated with differences in self-reported health of the individual and their community.

methods: Secondary analysis of the 2010 All Ireland Traveller Health Study (N = 1,663). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine socio-demographic and cultural predictors of two measures of poor health: “In general, would you say your health is…” and “Overall, how healthy do you consider the place where your family lives?”

findings: 17.3% of respondents reported being in poor health, and 24.5% felt that their community was unhealthy or very unhealthy. Respondents with little/no support from friends are most likely to report poor health (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.18-2.18), as are those respondents experiencing discrimination sometimes/often (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.28-2.43).  Respondents' value of Traveller culture did not predict poor self-rated health or community health.  However, living in a trailer is a statistically significant predictor of poor health of one’s community (OR = 7.38, 95% CI = 5.65-9.65). 

conclusion: Previous research has focused on health disparities between Travellers and non-Travellers.  However, new ways of life combined with persisting discrimination creates a need for Traveller health to be studied among its own community so that the true health potential of its members can be understood.