Back, neck conditions commonest form of health problems

A total of 22,472 persons have reported that they suffer from a long-standing health problem or disability, according to a survey carried out by the National Statistics Office.

The survey formed an addendum to the Labour Force Survey carried out in June 2002.

Disabilities or long-standing health problems relating to the back or neck were the most common type indicated in general. Among men, the largest proportion, 20.5 per cent, suffered from health problems related to the heart, blood or circulation. Among women the most common type of health problem related to the back or neck and this made up 20.4 per cent of all females between 15 and 64 years.

Of the 22,472, 57.3 per cent were men. Eight in every 100 persons between 15 and 64 years suffer from a long-standing health problem or disability. The ratio for men is slightly higher: 10 in every 100 whereas that for women is seven in every 100.

The likelihood of developing a disability or long-standing health problem increases with age.

In fact three per cent of persons between 15 and 24 years are estimated to have a disability or long-standing health problem as compared to 15 per cent of persons between 45 and 64 years.

The highest number of persons with a long-standing health problem or disability live in the south east.

Of the persons with a long-standing health problem or disability 17.1 per cent were considerably limited in the type or amount of work that they could carry out or in their mobility to or from the place of work. The majority or 67.1 per cent, however, said that their condition did not pose any limitation.

In most cases, persons suffering from a long-standing health problem or disability do not feel that they need personal assistance or the use of special equipment in order to work. These were estimated to reach 17,223 or 76.6 per cent of the total number of persons with a disability or long-standing health problem between the age of 15 and 64.

In the rest of the cases, i.e., a further 5,249 felt that special working arrangements would be welcomed. 19.1 per cent of those needing assistance suffered from mental, nervous or emotional problems.

The duration of disability is independent of age. The majority or 66.5 per cent of persons suffering from a long-standing health problem or disability had been suffering from such a condition for more than six years. A further 7.6 per cent had been suffering from a specific health problem or disability for less than one year.

Most of the persons suffering from a long-standing health problem or disability are inactive. In fact they make up 63.9 per cent of the total number. In this regard, women are more likely to be inactive than men.

Of the persons between 15 and 24 years suffering from a long-standing health problem or disability 35.5 per cent were employed as compared to 51.1 per cent of the total population within the same age group. By contrast, 48.9 per cent of disabled persons were inactive as compared to 39.7 per cent of the total population between 15 and 24 years.

Among the employed, 20.2 per cent worked in elementary occupations such as maids and messengers. These were followed by persons working in craft or related trades such as carpenters and electricians. The predominant economic activity in which most persons suffering from a long-standing health problem or disability worked was manufacturing: an estimated 16.3 per cent were employed in this sector, followed by 15.2 per cent in the wholesale and retail trade.

The number of unemployed men with a long-standing health problem or disability exceeds the number of women. In fact in June 2002 males made up 72.1 per cent of the total number of unemployed. In terms of duration of job search, 28.5 per cent had been unemployed for six to 11 months. The unemployment rate of persons with a long-standing health problem or disability stood at 11 per cent.