1. University College Dublin, Ireland.
Using the All Traveller Health Study Population Structure ( ) to compare with other Indigenous Ethnic Minority Populations Globally
MERH
Edinburgh 18TH May 2018
Brigid Quirke
University College Dublin, Ireland.
BB. Quirke 1., G. Muckle 2., MM. Heinen 1., LE.Daly L1., P. Fitzpatrick1, and CC. Kelleher1 on behalf on behalf of the All Ireland Health Study Team. 1.School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Sciences, University College, Dublin. Ireland 2. School of Psychology, University Laval, Quebec, Canada

2. Background and Objectives
Indigenous Ethnic minority populations globally experience high levels of mortality, low life expectancy and high fertility rates.
Irish Travellers are a centuries-old indigenous ethnic minority, of nomadic tradition, on the island of Ireland.
The All-Ireland Traveller Health Study (AITHS) was a comprehensive census survey of self-identified Travellers.
Objectives
to compare the Traveller population structures and Dependency Ratios with those of Inuit in Canada, and Aborigines in Australia.
To compare the Traveller population with historic general Irish population data.

3. We employed archived data of 7042 Traveller families (AITHS 2008); Traveller Census (Health Research Board 1987); Irish Census (CSO 2006 and Historic data 1881, 1946 and 1986); Canadian Census (Statistics Canada 2006); and Australian Census (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006).
Age groups were converted into percentages and scales, standardised to prepare comparative population pyramids between ethnic groups and the general populations.
Historic Irish population pyramids were prepared and compared over time with the Traveller population structure.
Using National Census data from 2006, comparative dependency ratios were estimated.
Study Methodology

4. Inuit, Traveller and Aboriginal pyramids

5. Irish General Population and Travellers Pyramid
Age Groups
Irish Travellers
AITHS 2008
Irish General Population Census
2006
Total Population
36,224
4,100,000
% Male
50.20%
50.03%
0-14 years
42%
21%
15-64 years
55%
66%
65 years + 3%
13%
Median age
22.4 years
36.1 years
Life Expectancy
65.9 years
79.3 years

6. Canadian General Population and Inuit Pyramid 2006
Age Groups
Canadian Inuit Census 2006
Canadian General Population Census
2006
Total Population
49,105
31,612,909
% Male
49.6%
48.9%
0-14 years
35%
18%
15-64 years
61%
69%
65 years + 4%
13%
Median age
22 Years
39 years
Life Expectancy
66.9 years
79.5 years

7. Australian General Population and Aboriginal Pyramid
Age Groups
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Census 2006
Australian General Population Census
2006
Total Population
601,450
20,697,880
% Male
49.8%
48.7%
0-14 years
38%
20%
15-64 years
59%
67%
65 years + 3%
13%
Median age
21.8 years
37.6 years
Life Expectancy
70 years
81 years

8. Irish General and Traveller pyramids 1986-2016

9. Traveller population compared to Irish Historic Pyramids

10. Comparative Dependency Ratios

11. Conclusions and Main Messages
Travellers, Aborigines and the Inuit have very distinctive population profiles.
Ethnic minorities living in different continents with different socio-cultural and historical contexts, share nonetheless similar health inequalities reflected in their population pyramids.
Life expectancy and mortality rates between Ethnic minorities and general population are improving at a very slow rate but the gap continues to grow as the general population health status improves at a faster rate.
Contemporary Irish Traveller population profiles contrast both with the Irish general population currently and with historical census records.
Main Messages:
Population Pyramids for Ethnic Minority populations over time can assist with monitoring the achievement of equality in health, education, employment and accommodation outcomes.
GDP 7th
GDP 24th
GDP18th

12. REFERERNCES
All Ireland Traveller Health Study Team. Summary of Findings of the All Ireland Traveller Health Study Dublin Department of Health and Children.
Central Statistics Office StataBank Ireland– Principle Demographic results 1841, 1946, 1986 and 2006: CDR02 Population at Each Census since 1926 by Age Group, Sex and CensusYear ( ) - Modified on 13/12/13 at 16:34
 StatBank / Profile 3 - An Age Profile of Ireland / E3001 /E3001  Enumerated Population 1926 to 2016 by Age Group, Sex and CensusYear ( ) - Modified on 06/07/17 at 11:26
Central Statistics Office; StataBank: E8019 Irish Travellers 2011 to 2016 by Single Year of Age, CensusYear and Sex ( ) - Modified on 13/10/17 at 10:13
Barry, Joe; Herity, Bernadette 1987; The Travellers' Health Status Study’: Vital Statistics of Travelling People, 1987; Health Research Board Dublin 1987
Tait H. Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division. Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2006: Inuit Health and Social Conditions. Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Statistics Canada 2011: Age Groups and Sex for the Population of Canada, Provinces and Territories, 1921 to 2011; Censuses 2006 Source: Catalogue Number XCB
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007: Population by Age and Sex, Australia (cat. no ) © Commonwealth of Australia 2007
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006: Estimates and Projections, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2001 to 2026 © Commonwealth of Australia 2014

13. Thank you
This Study is based on work funded by the Department of Health and Children, Republic of Ireland and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland. The views expressed in this Study are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either the Department of Health and Children or the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Life Expectancy
In 1987 the gap in life expectancy between Traveller women and settled women
was 12 years the gap in 2008 is 11 years
In 1987 the gap in life expectancy between Traveller men and settled men was 10 years the gap in 2008 is 15 years.
Mortality/Deaths
Traveller men have four times the mortality rate of the general population
Traveller women have three times the mortality rate of the general population.
Suicide is 6 times the rate of general population
The infant mortality rate for Travellers is 3.5 times the rate of the general population (4 infant deaths per 1,000 in the national population compared to 14 infant deaths per 1,000 in the Traveller population)