Over the years, the Centre for Ethnic Health Research (CEHR) has led a comprehensive programme of work to better understand and address the needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities.
Evidence consistently shows that Gypsy and Traveller (GT) people in the UK face significant health inequalities, including higher mortality rates and lower uptake of essential screening services.
Research shows that women in GT communities are more likely to experience difficulties related to pregnancy, childbirth and access to perinatal services than women from non-ethnic minority groups.
Many report feeling ‘frightened’ to seek support due to negative attitudes and discrimination from healthcare professionals.
Through its research, the CEHR is working to highlight these disparities and support more equitable access to healthcare.
To improve engagement of GT women in perinatal mortality research, the CEHR launched a project exploring their maternity journeys, aiming to better understand their healthcare experiences, enhance access to services and address gaps in care.
In Leicester, nine GT women were invited to share photographs representing their maternity journeys and their community customs around maternity care. This visual storytelling encouraged open dialogue about the risk factors contributing to high infant mortality and perinatal death rates.
Artist Lis Naylor then transformed these discussions into a series of artworks, reflecting the issue raised and fostering greater understanding and dialogue between the community and healthcare providers.
As part of a separate study, the CEHR conducted storytelling interviews with isolated carers from the GT community to explore informal caring practices.
The interviews examined participants’ experiences with support services, highlighting both the barriers they face and the factors that help them access and engage with care.
A recurring theme in many of the women’s interviews was a strong sense of family loyalty and a duty to care for aging or sick relatives, with an expectation that women would take on this role.
They also spoke of deep mistrust and fear when engaging with healthcare and social services, worried that their privacy could be compromised or that authorities might share information in ways that could negatively affect their community, particularly GT families with children.
For those women willing to seek support from outside their community, trust-building was key. They emphasised the importance of maintaining privacy, and of healthcare and social care workers approaching interactions with cultural awareness, open-mindedness and respect for GT ways of life to reduce tension, misunderstandings and prejudice.
One participant said: “Caring responsibilities are a woman’s duty, it’s expected, but it places strain on the women who care.”
Meanwhile, others said: “We value our privacy as a community from “outsiders”, and the family’s reputation within the community comes first,” and “Our practices and way of life is misunderstood by social services and healthcare professionals.”
Following two collaborative workshops, a good practice guide will be produced to outline approaches for making services more culturally appropriate and accessible for isolated carers from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The CEHR has also created an infographic offering practical guidance on how to engage effectively with GT communities.
Barbara Czyznikowska, Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager at the CEHR, said: “Our work is about listening first and responding with respect.
“By understanding the experiences and needs of GT communities, we can help build services that are not only accessible but truly welcoming – where people feel safe, valued and supported.”