Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

All Ireland Traveller Health StudyTable 244: Self-reported literacy ability in the AITHS and Lifeways StudiesTravellers(ROI) (n=6,938)Travellers(NI) (n=1,431)Lifeways medicalcard holders(n=498)Can usually read and fill out forms 71.2% 64.7% 92.4%Of those who can read and fill out forms, cando it but with difficulty13.9% 23.2% 7.0%Can calculate change from €/£5 or €/£10 note 95.5% 89.8% 99.0%Of those who can calculate change, can do itbut with difficultyOf those who take prescription medications,have difficulty reading the instructions6.1% 14.5% 4.9%49.6% 62.6% 9.4%**Data derived from the SLAN 2002 medical card holders, since this variable was not present in LifewaysReligion may be more important to the Travellers than to the general comparable population. Religionis ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to 89.4% of ROI Travellers and 85.3% of NI Travellers, compared with68.6% of Lifeways medical card holders. Among the medical card holders in SLAN 2002, 93.3% ofparticipants who provided a valid response indicated that they belonged to a religion. Whilst there wasno direct measure of importance of religion in SLAN, 35.8% of respondents indicated that they regularlyattended church or parish activities, or that they were involved in charitable or voluntary organisations.192