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A population survey about the implementation of the “Healthy Cities and Towns” project was conducted in Belarus

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In order to create conditions for maintaining and strengthening the health of the population, the state preventive project “Healthy Cities and Towns” has been implemented in Belarus since 2019.

In 2023, the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus conducted a questionnaire survey of citizens who live in settlements participating in the “Healthy Cities and Towns” project. The survey was aimed at researching the population’s awareness of this project implementation, the “health” of their locality, as well as their commitment to a healthy lifestyle. A total of 1,365 respondents took part in the survey.

According to the research, the following results were obtained:

  • 9% of respondents have information about the implementation of the “Healthy Cities and Towns” project in their city (town);
  • 19% indicated positive dynamics in the healthcare system of their locality over the past 3 years;
  • 31.5% of respondents regularly practice physical activity;
  • 48.8% adhere to healthy eating principles;
  • 54.4% deny systematic consumption of strong alcoholic beverages;
  • 55.5% have never tried smoking (including Vape, IQOS, etc.);
  • from 47.5% to 73% of respondents are satisfied with the functioning infrastructure facilities;
  • 44.2% do not pay attention to waste sorting, and 37.7% do not have a real opportunity to sort waste in their locality.

Thus, according to the respondents, the successful implementation of the “Healthy Cities and Towns” project is emphasized by the need of medicine development, creation of cultural and sports facilities, ensuring a high level of technological development and decent working conditions, introducing elements of a barrier-free environment. At the same time, the self-awareness of the population plays a significant role in the formation of the “health” of a locality: abstinence from alcohol, drugs and smoking, healthy eating, safe behavior on the road and an active lifestyle.

The implementation of the state preventive project “Healthy Cities and Towns” contributes to the achievement of medical and demographic stability of the country, disease prevention, healthy lifestyle formation and makes an important contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 10, 11 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.

Detailed results of the research are available via the link.