Social determinants in the Roma community in Slovakia: a historical comparison between the 18th century and the present
Social determinants in the Roma community in Slovakia: a historical comparison between the 18th century and the present
The objective of the present study of Michal Kozubik is to examine the past of the Roma people and compare their life as depicted by Samuel Augustini more than two hundred years ago with the present. Knowing history can help us reveal hidden and unanalysed concepts that influence the relationships between the majority population and the Roma community. In Chapter 1 we discuss the social determinants of health depicted by Samuel Augustini ab Hortis in the 18th century. Chapter 2 depicts how Samuel Augustini created his work in the 18th century, and how we conducted our field research. The social structures of Roma enclaves were the subject matter of the comparison in Chapter 3. Housing and eating, significant social determinants of health, are described in Chapter 4. Illnesses and death are discussed in Chapter 5. The Roma’s relationship to religion and churches is discussed in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 discusses the issue of violence against Roma women. Chapter 8 summarises the answers to the research questions, the main findings and their interpretations, and discusses implications for practice and further research.
The interpretations are anchored in two theories: the General System Theory (GST) and the Theory of Capital of Pierre Bourdieu. The GST addresses the importance of various levels: the micro level (an individual, an inhabitant of a marginalised Roma settlement); the meso level (the Roma community en bloc), and the macro level (the country and its institutions) affect the economic, social, personal and cultural capital of people and groups.