Factsheets - Traveller Health
- The infant mortality rate for Travellers was 18.1/1000 live briths compared to a national figure of 7.4.
- At brith, male Travellers can expect to live 9.9 years less than settled men.
- At birth, female Travellers can expect to live 11.9 years less than settled women.
- Male Travellers have over twice the risk of dying in a given year than settled males. For female Travellers the risk is more than 3 times.
- The SIDS rate among Traveller families in 2002 was more than 3.5 times the national figure (2.2 vs 0.6 per 1000 live births), ISIDA 2002. (Based on estimate of the total number of live births among Traveller families in 1995 (n=454))
National Traveller Health Strategy
In 2002, the National Traveller Health Strategy (NTHS) was launched with a budget of 9 million euro for its implementation 2002-2005. This Strategy acknowledges the factors influencing Traveller health:
Living Conditions
The poor conditions in which many Travellers live is an important factor. The NTHS states one in four Travellers has no piped water or electricity.
Racism and Discrimination
According to the NTHS, 17% of Travellers have difficulty in registering with a GP and in many areas it was found that only a small number of GPs provided services to Travellers.
Health Promotion
Lack of education and training materials that are relevant and meaningful to Travellers has contributed to a low uptake of health services by Travellers
Traveller Health Infrastructure
A Traveller Health Policy Unit now exists at Departmental level along with the National Traveller Health Advisory Committee. At a regional level Traveller Health Units now operate and Primary Health Care for Travelle Projects exist at a local level.
New Study on Traveller Health
As part of the NTHS an All Ireland Traveller Health Status and Needs Assessment Study will commence in 2004.
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