Building Trust in Roma Communities and Internally Displaced People for NCD Prevention: Developing and Testing an Integrated Social Healthcare Development Methodology for Vulnerable Groups in Central and Eastern Europe
Social and environmental health determinants impact the health ecosystem of vulnerable groups. In Central and Eastern Europe, Roma communities are among the most vulnerable and segregated groups. Cultural characteristics, poverty, and a distrust of systemic structures lead Roma groups to face widespread health inequalities, such as low health literacy and a low willingness to adhere to medical protocols. These health determinants then directly contribute to the Roma community’s increased risk for developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
ShowUp4Health believes that communities that synergise medical and social interventions can use this as a tool to build trust and facilitate higher levels of health literacy in vulnerable groups like the Roma. Cross-sectoral partnerships of stakeholders in support of vulnerable communities can also bring expertise, cooperation and resources to address complex NCD strands.
The general objective of ShowUp4Health aims to address social and environmental health determinants, which contribute to the increased risk of NCDs in vulnerable groups (primarily Roma communities and secondarily internally displaced people (IDPs)).
The Specific Objectives of ShowUp4Health are the following:
– Decrease health inequalities in vulnerable groups (i.e., Roma communities) focusing on the combination of social and environmental health determinants through the targeting of the entire patient pathway in NCD prevention.
– Bridge the fields of social work and healthcare within a single Integrated Social-Healthcare Methodology to establish trust, facilitate health literacy, and build adherence to health protocols within vulnerable groups.
– Understand the adaptability of the Integrated Social-Healthcare Methodology in reducing health inequalities within other vulnerable groups in Europe.
Term: 1 Dec 2023 – 30 Nov 2026
Funding:
FUNDING PROGRAMME EU4Health Programme (2021/2027)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS EU4H-2022-PJ-3
Target group: people with increased risk of NCDs in vulnerable groups (primarily Roma communities and secondarily internally displaced people)
Partners:
Hungary: Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta (HCSOM) – coordinator; Semmelweis University, Health Services Management Training Centre (SE)
Romania: Order of Malta Relief Organisation in Romania (SAMR)
Slovenia: Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota (CHD MS)
Ukraine: International Family Medicine Clinic for Internally Displaced People (FMC)
More about the project at http://s4h.maltai.hu/
