Abstract:
Roma living in marginalised communities are among the most disadvantaged groups in Slovakia. Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with higher hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), including in parents. The aim of this study is therefore to assess differences in HCC, reflecting the levels of stress, between mothers living in MRCs and from the majority population, to assess the association of socioeconomic disadvantage with HCC, and whether disadvantage mediates the MRC/majority differences in HCC. Participants were mothers of children aged 15-18 months old living in MRCs (N=61) and from the Slovak majority population (N=90). During preventive paediatric visits, visits at community centres and home visits, hair samples and data by questionnaire were collected. HCC differed significantly between mothers living in MRCs and mothers from the majority population, with the mean HCC value being twice as high in mothers living in MRCs (22.98 (95% confidence interval, CI, 15.70-30.30) vs. 11.76 (8.34-15.20), p<0.05). HCC was significantly associated with education, household equipment and household overcrowding, but not with billing, socioeconomic stress and social support. The difference in HCC between mothers living in MRCs and mothers from the majority population was partially mediated by poor house equipment, such as no access to running water, no flushing toilet or no bathroom (the indirect effect of B=7.63 (95% CI: 2.12-13.92)). Practitioners and policymakers should be aware of high stress levels among mothers living in MRCs and aim at enhancing their living and housing conditions.
摘要:
生活在边缘化社区的罗姆人是斯洛伐克最弱势群体之一。社会经济劣势与较高的头发皮质醇浓度(HCC)有关,包括父母。因此,这项研究的目的是评估肝癌的差异,反映了压力的水平,生活在MRC中的母亲和大多数人口之间,评估社会经济劣势与肝癌的关系,以及劣势是否介导HCC的MRC/多数差异。参与者是生活在MRC(N=61)和斯洛伐克多数人口(N=90)的15-18个月大的儿童的母亲。在预防性儿科就诊期间,访问社区中心和家访,通过问卷调查收集头发样本和数据。HCC在生活在MRC中的母亲和来自大多数人群的母亲之间存在显着差异,生活在MRC中的母亲的平均HCC值高两倍(22.98(95%置信区间,CI,15.70-30.30)vs.11.76(8.34-15.20),p<0.05)。肝癌与教育显著相关,家庭设备和家庭过度拥挤,但不是账单,社会经济压力和社会支持。住在MRC中的母亲和来自大多数人口的母亲之间的HCC差异部分是由不良的房屋设备介导的,比如没有自来水,没有冲水厕所或没有浴室(B=7.63(95%CI:2.12-13.92)的间接影响)。从业者和政策制定者应该意识到生活在MRC中的母亲的高压力水平,并致力于改善他们的生活和住房条件。