Most Maltese happy with quality of life

Three-quarters of the Maltese rate their quality of life as good or very good and a similar number of people are satisfied with their health and with themselves, according to the first National Health Survey.

Only 0.26 per cent of the respondents said their quality of life was very poor, and just 1.5 per cent rated it as poor.

The data was collected via a self-assessment questionnaire sent to 5,510 individuals aged 16 and over. The survey was conducted between January and March 2000 and the results were published by the Department of Health yesterday.

Health Minister Louis Deguara said the results provided valuable evidence on which policy could be formulated. The survey aimed "at providing an unbiased insight into the nationwide burden of chronic physical and mental conditions as well as investigate the knowledge and behaviour of the Maltese population regarding health". Internationally accepted criteria were used in the survey.

Close to 70 per cent perceived their health to be good or very good. Just over 40 per cent said they had suffered from headaches and back pain during the 30 days prior to filling in the questionnaire, while just over 30 per cent complained of neck or shoulder pain or pains in their joints.

Ten per cent said they suffered from depression and 34 per cent of women said they suffered from period pains. Just over six per cent were unable to go to school or work because of such symptoms.

Forty per cent have never had their cholesterol level tested while a similar number had their blood pressure tested less than three months before the survey. Just over 31 per cent said they had never been for a routine check-up while 23.4 per cent did.

Just over 41 per cent of women never had a smear test and 45 per cent never had their breasts examined by a doctor.

Just over 45 per cent said they had enough money to meet their needs, with three per cent saying they did not have enough and six per cent saying they had "a little". Forty-four per cent said they had "a moderate" amount of money.

A total of 88 per cent are satisfied with the condition of their home, and three per cent said they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.

A high 83 per cent said they wished there was less pollution, 55 per cent wished they spent less time in smoky places and 60 per cent wished they had less stress.

Just over 43 per cent of the population felt tense, stressed or under a lot of pressure. Less than half the population, 44 per cent, felt calm and peaceful all or most of the time. Over 52 per cent felt they had a lot of energy, five per cent felt downhearted and blue all or most of the time and almost 20 per cent felt down some of the time.

Fifty-three per cent felt happy all or most of the time. Fifty-five per cent said they did light housework daily and heavy housework once a week. Forty-six per cent said they walked to do their shopping while 41 per cent took their car.

Only 2.6 per cent used public transport and 0.35 per cent used their bicycle. Seventy-seven per cent never did any physical activity.

Just over 23 per cent said they smoked, with 0.1 per cent smoking over 60 cigarettes a day. Eighteen per cent smoked up to 20 cigarettes a day, 5.4 per cent smoked between 21 and 40 cigarettes a day. Close to 10 per cent said they had cut down on smoking.

Asked what they considered could help them stop smoking, 94 per cent said more expensive cigarettes. Support from family and friends, advice from a doctor or nurse, more will power, less stress as well as smoking policies at work all ranked high as motives to help with quitting.

Thirty-eight per cent said they drank occasionally, with 15 per cent saying they drank only on weekends. Close to eight per cent said they had driven a car after consuming more than four drinks during the 12 months preceding the survey. Only 17 per cent said they never drove after consuming alcohol.

Tea and coffee appear to be very popular beverages with some drinking 18 cups of coffee and others drinking 16 cups of tea a day. The average is two cups a day.

Bread is eaten ravenously by some. Although on average people eat just over two slices of bread a day, some said they ate 19 slices of Maltese bread and others said they consumed 18 slices of white bread. Close to 60 per cent never ate cereals. Some 48 per cent never eat chips or dried or canned fruit. Close to 38 per cent never eat any sweets. A total of 65 per cent do not drink sugar free soft drinks and 67 per cent drink water daily.

Dr Renzo Pace Asciak, a health information consultant who gave an overview of the findings, said the surveys showed there were areas in which work should be done in earnest, such as curbing passive smoking, as the survey showed that exposure to passive smoking was "shockingly high". More had to be done to promote physical activity while on the other hand awareness had led to a decrease in unhealthy eating habits.