Abstract

The whole existence of the rroma, regardless of the particularities of their lineage, is modulated by their ancestral culture, which implies respect for the family and the community. The rroma family is usually extended, offers support to its members in any situation and represents the basic unit of the society. In this paper authors present the results of a qualitative study that aimed to describe the attitudes, behavior, opinions, beliefs, knowledge and values of rroma that face incurable diseases from two communities in two different counties of Romania, Iasi and Cluj. Study participants were severely chronically ill patients and their families and data were collected using individual interviews. Data have shown a particular way of thinking of the people that were interviewed; they counted on family help in any situation and often on community help.