Pilot Study About the Importance of the Active Role of Roma Students: Improving the Health of Bulgarian Children from the Roma Minority Group Through Nutrition and Probiotics

Abstract

Background/Objective: The priority task of each country is to ensure the protection of and improvement in its people’s health. One of the key aspects of health is related to food culture, consuming foods that ensure growth and normal development in a person and also prevent diseases. The consumption of foods that contain essential nutrients and functional foods, which include those containing probiotics, is the basis of a healthy diet. Methods: A structured anonymous interview was conducted with 90 parents from the Roma minority group to assess the nutritional culture of children from these families. The knowledge of Roma parents about probiotics, as well as their attitudes to apply them to their children, was examined. The survey was based on a questionnaire that was distributed among the respondents, Roma students, under the guidance of a mentor. Roma students study health specialties and are also participants in a Scholarship Programme. Results: We have established that the daily diet of children from this minority group consists of foods containing hydrogenated fats and sugar, which was indicated by 53.3% of respondents, and only 28.9% of respondents noted that their children consume fresh fruit every day. We have established that less than half of the children (35.6%) consume yoghurt daily as a source of valuable probiotics. We applied a nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test and found statistically significant differences in the respondents’ knowledge of probiotics (χ2 = 16.186, p = 0.001): those receiving secondary specialized education were better informed, but education has not affected their knowledge of the health benefits of probiotics (χ2 = 5.462, p = 0.141). Children from minority groups tend to eat unhealthy foods. Conclusions: The role of Roma students studying health specialties as participants in the Scholarship Programme is to assist parents in forming a nutritional culture in their children. Roma students, due to their ethnic and cultural proximity and potential to be health professionals, contribute to sustainable health improvements among the Roma community as a whole.