1. health and fitness

A health and wellbeing survey in
North Somerset to investigate
health behaviours and mental
wellbeing
Jonathan Roberts
Consultant in Public Health
North Somerset Council
Overview
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Why we conducted the survey
Methods
Results
How we are using findings
Health inequalities in North Somerset
• North Somerset ranks 7th in the Country for the largest inequality
gap in terms of range in deprivation scores between areas.
• Super output areas in the least and most affluent 1% nationally
• The current slope of inequality in the gap in life expectancy between
the most affluent and most deprived deciles
9.9 years for men and for 6.7 years women
• Gap in life expectancy between most affluent and least wards
18 years
Why did we do the research?
Aim: Identify the relationship between health/wellbeing and deprivation,
as well as other demographic factors to inform policy and interventions
and establish a baseline to measure impact of public health activity.
The survey covered the following key issues:
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Diet and nutrition
Smoking prevalence
Alcohol in-take
Levels of physical activity
Mental wellbeing
Loneliness/isolation
Perceptions of trust
Method
• Self completion postal and on-line survey, including a reminder to nonrespondents
• Targeted at four wards which represented deprived and affluent wards
in North Somerset
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Nailsea East
Blagdon and Churchill
Weston-super-Mare South
Weston-super-Mare Central
• Random sample of addresses selected using the Land and Property
Gazetteer
• The questionnaire was designed to be as comparable as possible with
available local and national indicators
Analysis
• Results weighted to ensure demographics in each ward in
line with latest population data
• Each health and wellbeing question analysed against key
demographic variables to identify any relevant patterns
• Trends, similarities or differences by different types of
respondents analysed
• Looked at relationships between health behaviours and
mental wellbeing and loneliness
Results
• In total, across the four wards, 4,137 households were
selected with 1,729 responding
• Response rate of 42% and an overall sample error of
no more than +/-2.3% at a 95% confidence level
• Key findings across all areas....
– Men
– Younger residents
– Disabled residents
– People living alone
– People who are unemployed
Results
• Next section summarises affluent vs. deprived wards for
the following:
• Health behaviours (incl. combinations)
– Smoking
– Alcohol consumption
– Diet
– Physical activity
• Mental wellbeing
– Overall
– Loneliness
– Trust in others
Residents in deprived areas are more likely to
smoke
Number of respondents: 1712
Residents in deprived areas are more likely to be heavier
drinkers
Numbers in brackets are the number of respondents to each question (excludes non-drinkers)
Residents in deprived areas are more likely to have
poor nutritional habits
Numbers in brackets are the number of respondents to each question
Residents in deprived areas tend to do less
physical activity
Numbers in brackets are the number of respondents to each question
Residents that smoke are less likely to drink, but those that
drink are more likely to be heavy drinkers
Numbers in brackets are the number of respondents to each question
Residents with poor diets and residents
that do not exercise are more likely to
smoke
Number of respondents: Diet (1703) / Physical activity (1629)
Residents with poor diets are less likely to do
physical exercise
Number of respondents: 1635
Residents living in deprived areas tend to have
slightly lower levels of mental wellbeing
Residents living in deprived areas are more likely to
be lonely
Number of respondents: 1699 (average across all indicators)
Residents living in deprived areas are less likely to trust
other people
Number of respondents: 1720
According to respondents – health behaviours
and social factors important
Local action – using the evidence
• Identified areas of higher need
– reinforce health inequalities messages
• Weston-super-Mare South ward asset based community
development project
– Funding for community builders, multi agency input
• Clustering of risk factors
– ‘make every contact count’ initiative
• Public mental health strategy for North Somerset
– Evidence for evaluation
Local action – using the evidence
• Loneliness
– Community Connect, multi agency
conference
• Men’s health
– Needs assessment
• Workplace health and (un)employment
– Workplace charter, shared work
Acknowledgements
• Helen Yeo, Emily van de Venter, Sandra Shcherba,
North Somerset Council Public Health
• Mark Yeadon, Public Perspectives
Questions?
[email protected]
Survey results available from North Somerset
Council JSNA page