This paper uses birth records linked to census data to document health differences at birth between Roma and non-Roma children in Hungary between 1981 and 2010. It focuses on differences in average birth weight and average gestational age, as well as the likelihood of low birth weight and the likelihood of preterm birth. The paper shows large gaps in all indicators over the 30 years, with a small narrowing of the gap in absolute terms but not in relative terms. Roma mothers are twice as likely to give birth to babies with low birth weight and before the 37th week. Standard decompositions show that around 80% of the gap is explained by socioeconomic factors, and education alone explains more than half. Despite significant changes in society, the explanatory power of education and other factors remains constant. Narrowing the gap in educational attainment, especially at higher levels, may have the highest potential to improve the relative health of Roma births.

中文翻译：

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匈牙利罗姆人和非罗姆人儿童出生时的健康差异：长期趋势和分解

本文使用与人口普查数据相关的出生记录来记录 1981 年至 2010 年匈牙利罗姆人和非罗姆人儿童在出生时的健康差异。它侧重于平均出生体重和平均胎龄的差异，以及低产的可能性体重和早产的可能性。该论文显示，30 年来所有指标的差距都很大，绝对值差距略有缩小，但相对差距不大。罗姆人母亲在第 37 周之前生下低出生体重婴儿的可能性是其两倍。标准分解表明，大约 80% 的差距是由社会经济因素解释的，仅教育就可以解释一半以上。尽管社会发生了重大变化，但教育和其他因素的解释力保持不变。