ABSTRACT
Significant disparities in a number of health domains exist between the Roma and the mainstream population in Hungary. The authors of this chapter examined the main factors responsible for health disparities, paying particular attention to substance abuse, risk behavior, attitudes toward healthcare, and barriers related to healthcare use. Their research is an example of community-based research that would have benefited from long-term accompaniment of the Roma community by the research team, which could not take place due to limitations in the design of the research project and other constraints the researchers experienced. While the attitudes of the Roma toward the researchers were positive, informed by mutual trust, the researchers were unable to continue their engagement with them. As a result, the researchers were unable to continue utilizing their findings to facilitate access to needed social and clinical services and work toward long-term solutions to the Roma’s social problems. The authors argue that culturally sensitive, long-term accompaniment, rather than a short-term and narrowly focused research project, is needed in research of marginalized minorities.
