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National Health Survey FAQs

The National Health Survey is an internationally recognized survey by the world Health Organization carried out every 5 years in cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the Information & eGovernment Authority and the Primary Healthcare Centres to provide valid and realistic health data about the community of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It allows for comparison and identifying the priority health problems. The National Health Survey objectives are:

1. Providing a comprehensive database and information on the health status of the population to improve health indicators. 
2. Strengthening the health information system and setting health priorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain. 
3. Contribute to the development of future strategies, evaluation of health services and health planning. 
4. Monitor health indicators related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which reflect the health status of the population and risk factors for chronic diseases and lifestyles. 
5. Improving the quality of life through the early detection of diseases and the provision of appropriate health care.  
6. Strengthening health systems and building the capacity of community members to address health problems.  
7. Assess disparity in health interventions to develop plans to address chronic diseases.  
8. Better understand the health requirements for the implementation of preventive and curative programs for diseases.

• Activating the national responsibility of individuals through active participation which will improve the health of the community and support health related decision-making.
• Improvement of health services planning by studying the data collected.

The field visits duration for the health survey will last for 6 months, from September 2024 to March 2025, and may be extended longer according to the response rates and sample completion.

A random sample of citizens and residents aged 18 years and over is selected from all governorates of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The collected Information includes: 
• General health status: chronic diseases, injuries, current health conditions. 
• Healthy habits: nutrition, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and reproductive health. 
• Living conditions and marital status: housing, income, education and disability.
• Health uses: doctors’ visits and utilization of medicines. 

In addition to conducting basic medical blood tests and biometric tests such as blood pressure, measurement of weight, height, waist, and hips circumference and vision test.

Yes, all information collected during the survey is considered confidential, as the data is handled securely, in accordance with the ethics of surveys.

Households participating in the survey are randomly selected using a scientific method to ensure that a broad sample of the population is represented.

The duration of the interview may vary, the time ranges from one to two hours, and the completion of the survey questionnaire may require more than one visit per family at times.

Participants are randomly selected from all governates, and participation is done through face-to-face interviews in the households. Participation also includes a visit to the health center to conduct laboratory blood tests and vision tests.

Refer to the list of researchers in the National Health Survey section on the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) corporate website www.iga.gov.bh, and ask for their IDs upon entry. All surveyors should have their ID cards and wear their vest at all times during the process.

The field visits are arranged through National Health Survey representatives via the phone number 17282216 & 17282314.

If you have any questions about the survey, you can call the hotline at 80008100.