Health Behaviour survey among Latvian Adult Population

To collect information about individual health behaviour, to evaluate actual and potential public health problems associated with health behaviour, to investigate demographic and geographic distribution, and to gain accurate evidence-based information for future health promotion and health education programs.

This is a monitoring type survey conducted biennially. The Health Behaviour survey among Latvian Adult Population is being carried out since 1998. Since 2010, due to changes in the regulatory framework, changes in the methodology of this survey were made. The target population has expanded to include an additional age group between ages 65 and 74 since 2016.

The general population of the survey are residents of Latvia aged 15 to 74. A representative sample of Latvian residents was selected using a combined sampling method – stratified random sampling and the quota method. This sample provides a representation of all the most important socio-demographic groups (representative for the population of Latvia). The survey sample is stratified by sex, age, region and level of urbanisation (city or parish).

Questionnaire in Latvian and its translation into Russian. Amount of the questionnaire: approximately 140 closed questions.
The survey items include:

• the socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, nationality, place of residence, marital status, number of children, education, occupation, income);
• state of health of respondents (self-assessment of health, frequency of doctor visits, diagnosed diseases, individual disease symptoms and complaints, medication use, health prevention activity);
• the availability and satisfaction of respondents’ health care and healthcare services;
• respondents' health habits (nutrition, physical activity, smoking, alcohol and drug use, compliance with traffic safety requirements) and efforts to change them;
• attitudes of respondents to health and safety;
• anthropometric, arterial blood pressure and pulse rate measurements of respondents.

• pre-field training seminars are organized, during which interviewers are introduced with the purpose of the survey and the agenda – conducting interviews, selecting and registering respondents; exercises are being carried out on the collection of anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist and hip circumference), arterial blood pressure and pulse rate measurements; training interviewers for unusual situations; conducting cross-test interviews. In addition, guidelines are prepared for interviewers (on working with questionnaires and sampling, performing anthropometric measurements and determining arterial blood pressure and pulse frequencies, as well as meeting epidemiological requirements).
• direct interviews are conducted at respondents' residences in Latvian or Russian, depending on the preferred language of communication, thereby providing respondents with a better understanding of the survey questions and, accordingly, achieving a higher quality of data collected. The data collection uses a computer-assisted personal interlocation (CAPI), which records the results of interviews in the database on the server online with a mobile internet connection. In situations where the CAPI method is not applicable for technical reasons (breakdown of computer, drainage of computer battery, insufficient coverage of mobile internet network, etc.), interviews are conducted using the PAPI (Paper and Pen Interviewing) method.
• in order to ensure the quality of performance and compliance with the standards of ESOMAR, the following conditions of interviews must be met:

 - interviews shall take place with the consent of the respondent;
 - juvenile respondents aged between 15 and 18 need a written permission/consent from their parents/guardians;
 - interviews take place on the basis of a pre-agreed questionnaire, the interviewers have been introduced with the questionnaire and the specific features of each question during the briefing;
 - the nature of the survey and a guarantee of anonymity of the information provided is explained to respondents;
 - participation in the survey does not cause any harm to the respondent and will not result in adverse effects;
 - the respondent shall be given the opportunity to verify the credibility of the interviewer without difficulty, providing contact details in which the respondent may find answers to questions of interest about the survey.

• In order to verify the authenticity of interviews, at least 10%-15% of respondents are re-contacted for verification of interviews carried out, including questions concerning the circumstances of interviews (whether the interview was conducted, when the interview took place, manner of questioning, etc.) and the re-questioning of individual control questions from the questionnaire. All interviewers and interviews are included in selection of the verification test. The test shall take place within 10 to 14 days after interviews have been conducted. In the event that at least 2 interviews of a particular interviewer cannot be verified for authenticity or significant deviations have been identified, an examination of all conducted interviews by the interviewer shall be carried out. A decision on the exclusion or retention of questionnaires collected shall be taken. Verification tests shall be conducted by persons who did not perform interviews and are not familiar with interviewers.

• pre-processing data are weighted by 5 parameters - gender, age, type of residence, region and nationality, according to the latest statistics;
• data control is performed after collection of data - statistical analysis of the breakdown and frequency of responses. By statistically analyzing responses provided by respondents in the interviewer section, it is possible to identify statistical differences from averages that allow for the identification of cases where a different interpretation of questions has occurred or when a deliberate counterfeiting of responses has occurred. Such cases shall be identified followed by an examination of all questionnaires of the interviewer concerned, and a decision on the annulment or maintenance of the questionnaires collected shall then be taken.
• a data file verification is performed that allows to identify and exclude questionnaires of interviewers where so-called, unexplained replies are predominant. The logical relationships between answers, the links between the variations of answers are also compared and tested.

Health Behaviour surveys

Daiga Grīnberga

Senior public health analyst at the Non-infectious Disease Data Analysis and Research Unit

phone: +371 67501588

Creation date of metadata: 11.09.2023.