Health and well-being of Ukrainians

Press

24.01.2017

Health and well-being of Ukrainians

According to a study conducted by the Rating Group in December 2016, 45% of working-age Ukrainians (men aged 18–65 and women aged 18–60) rate their health as good or very good, 43% as satisfactory, and 12% as poor or very poor. The highest share of those who consider their health good or very good is in the West (49%), while the lowest is in the East (37%). Rural residents rate their health more positively than urban residents (47% vs. 43%). The younger the respondents, the higher their education and income, the better they rate their health. Men more often consider their health good or very good than women (49% vs. 39%).
Just under a third (29%) of Ukrainians report having chronic illnesses, while 71% say they do not. Among those with chronic conditions, 58% have one illness, 29% have two, and 13% have three or more. Urban residents report chronic illnesses more often than rural residents. Older people, those with poorer self-rated health, lower income, and women are more likely to report having chronic conditions.
38% of respondents visited a doctor in the past year, while 62% did not. Among those who did, one third visited once, 28% twice, 16% three times, 10% four times, and 15% five times or more. Older people, women, and urban residents visited doctors more often. Those who do not exercise are also more likely to visit doctors. Interestingly, non-smokers and those who do not drink alcohol also report more frequent doctor visits.
11% were hospitalized in the past year, while 89% were not. Among those hospitalized, 44% stayed for one day, 24% for 2–7 days, and 32% for more than 8 days.
38% of respondents smoke, while 62% do not. Among non-smokers, 23% are former smokers and 77% have never smoked. Smoking is most common in the East (43%) and least common in the West (31%). People aged 51+ smoke less than younger groups. Men smoke three times more often than women. Smoking is most prevalent among the lowest-income group.
Only 2% drink alcohol (including beer) almost daily, 12% several times a week, 36% several times a month, 34% several times a year, and 16% do not drink at all. Drinking at least several times a month is most common in the Center and least common in the West. Men drink nearly twice as often as women. Those who report better health are more likely to drink alcohol. Both the lowest-income and highest-income groups drink more often than those with middle incomes.
Only 9% exercise almost daily, 15% several times a week, 14% several times a month, and 12% several times a year, while 50% do not exercise at all. The share of people who exercise is highest in the Center and lowest in the East. People with better health exercise more often. Younger, wealthier, and more educated respondents exercise more frequently, and men exercise more than women.
Over the past month, 8% felt sad or hopeless almost every day, 23% several times a week, and 44% several times a month, while about one quarter did not feel sadness or despair recently.
During the same period, 5% felt lonely almost daily, 12% several times a week, 28% several times a month, while 54% did not feel lonely at all.
The older respondents are, the worse their health and the lower their income, the more often they experienced sadness, hopelessness, and low mood. The same pattern is observed among those with lower social status, weaker feelings of control over their lives, and lower life satisfaction.
Residents of the South felt loneliness more often than people in other regions. Older age, poorer health, and lower income are associated with more frequent feelings of loneliness. Women feel lonely more often than men. Lower social status, weaker sense of control over one’s life, and lower life satisfaction are also linked to more frequent loneliness.

Methodology

Respondents: the working-age population of Ukraine – males aged 18-65, females aged 18-60.The sample is split up into various categories: age, gender, region, and place of residence.
Total: 1580 respondents.
Face-to-face formalized interviews.
The margin of error does not exceed 2.5%.
Fieldwork dates: 1-10 December 2016