[Advocacy for Roma health: in-service training of professionals from the Seville Health District]

Abstract

This article describes a workshop whose objective was to build Roma health advocacy capacity among a group of health professionals. Health advocacy is recommended by international organizations and public health experts to overcome the health inequities that Roma populations suffer. Sixteen professionals from three health centres located in neighbourhoods with a high Roma population participated. The workshop was organized in three sessions aimed at raising awareness, sharing an advocacy framework and methodology and designing an advocacy plan. We highlight the utility of spaces for reflection and analysis, the need to advocate for Roma health with Roma leaders and community sectors, identification of opportunities and utilization of community resources. Future research should strengthen the development of intersectoral advocacy plans, disseminate them and facilitate their implementation in other contexts with similar characteristics.

Keywords: Abogacía; Advocacy; Capacitación en servicio; Health inequities; In-service training; Inequidades; Roma; Romaní.