The Roma population both in Slovenia and in the EU countries is among the most socially excluded groups, which is also reflected in their exclusion from health care. If we add segregation, poverty, low educational structure, high unemployment, worsening socioeconomic situation, early fertility and frequent teenage pregnancies (even pregnancies of teens under the age of 15), patriarchal stance and the interweaving of different phenomena such as antigypsyism and anti-Roma racism, social exclusion and intolerance, it becomes clear that all of the aforementioned makes it difficult for the Roma women to access the healthcare system. As a part of the Zdravo project, I became acquainted with certain persons from the Roma community in the Lower Carniola region, which contributed to my master's thesis centering on the research on the state of health and awareness of Roma women on “safe sex”. I researched whether the social status of Roma women or their living environment influenced their thinking and decision-making regarding procreation, the use of contraception and also the general role of Roma women in society. Through conversations with 10 Roma women, it became clear that sexuality is still a taboo for the said interviewees, especially when men were present. Roma women who are better situated are more aware of the social aspects of gender, femininity, they create families later, they are more involved in the decision-making and are more aware in terms of health care, since most of them have a personal gynecologist, dentist and GP.
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