Population Structure and Distribution

Travellers have a very distinctive population profile. Their population pyramid is very similar to developing countries, with a wide base which is indicative of a high birth rate and a young population which narrows steeply. As Travellers get older, the population pyramid becomes narrower at the top. This is the consequence of high mortality rates at a younger age and low life expectancy as experienced by Travellers compared to the national population. The following are some of the demographic details of the Traveller community as identified by the CSO in the 2006 census:

• Travellers account for 0.53% of the total population
• 62% are aged less than 25 years compared with 35.3% nationally
• 41.5% are aged less than 15 years compared to 21.4% nationally
• 2.6% over 65 years compared to 11% nationally
• Only 25 Travellers were over 85 years of age

Pyramids

The figures below illustrates two population pyramids outlining the difference in the population structure between the settled and Traveller population.

The first pyramid (more a tradional Bell-Curve) shows the National Irish population; it shows a relatively low birthrate with sustained longevity and a stable population. Click the image to enlarge it.

The broad based population pyramid suggests a higher birth rate as well as higher death rates among Travellers. Traveller population becomes smaller and smaller as they grow older. Click the image to enlarge it.

Challenges to Address the Health Status of Travellers

The breadth and complexities of factors, which determine health and inequalities in health for Travellers illustrate the multitude of sectors with whom it is necessary to work if these issues are to be addressed. Health is, therefore, an issue for all public policies and must be addressed across all government departments, not just the Department of Health and Children. The need for multi-sectoral collaboration to tackle the physical, economic, social and cultural determinants of Travellers’ health must be recognised.

A health service that challenges racism at the individual and the institutional level will ensure

that Travellers have visibility within planning and provision. Providers will be sensitive to issues of discrimination and their impact, and to the potential for their service to discriminate.

Provision will be rooted in an affirmation of Traveller identity and will seek to contribute to improving the wider context within which Travellers live.

If one defines health in a holistic way the determinants of Travellers’ poor health status need to be addressed and health professionals need to take on a role of advocates to challenge these determinants.

In order to effectively monitor Travellers’ health status, Travellers need to be identified in the context of their ethnicity on all health record systems. Data can then be disaggregated, to monitor the impact of health initiatives and to target resources to the areas or individuals at highest risk.

Traveller health is defined in a holistic way, using a social determinant of health approach, which includes recognition of all the factors that influence health. This model clearly illustrates that we need to tackle all causes to effect change in health status as outlined below in the Dalghren and Whitehead Model. Click to enlarge the image below.