Life style and (preventive) health; personal characteristics, 2014-2021

Table explanation

Description topics

Physical activity, 12 years or older

The questions on physical activities were asked to every person aged 12 years or older, and are based upon the so-called Short Questionnaire to Assess Health Enhancing Physical Activity (SQUASH). This questionnaire aims to provide a complete view of a person-s physical activity. Frequencies and durations of the following physical activities were asked for:
1.Commuting to work or school by cycle or on foot,
2.Activities at work or in school,
3.Housekeeping activities ,
4.Walking, cycling, gardening and doing odd jobs in spare time,
5.Practising sports.
From 2017 onwards, Statistics Netherlands will publish the new physical activity guidelines (drawn up by the Dutch Health Council) for people aged 4 years or older. The figures on physical activity of people aged 12 or older are published for the last time in 2017.

Meeting the Dutch Norm Healthy Exercise

The percentage of persons of 12 years or older who comply with the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise. This Dutch standard specifies the minimal amount of physical exercise that is required to maintain and improve health. It is based on MET values (metabolic equivalents): 1 MET corresponds to the energy expenditure of sitting, resting, and 5 MET corresponds to 5 times the energy expenditure of this resting metabolic rate. For all activities that are enquired in the SQUASH questionnaire, the MET value has been established.
According to the standard, adolescents aged 12 to 17 years need to perform moderately intensive physical activities (MET value minimally 5) at least one hour daily, such as bicycling. Persons of 18 years or older should perform moderately intensive physical activities at least for half an hour, at least five days a week. For persons aged 18 to 54 years, the MET value should at least by 4, e.g. walking (5 km / h). For persons of 55 years or older, it will do to perform in accordance with a MET value of 3, e.g. quietly walking (4 km / h).
At the end of 2017, the Dutch Health Council published new physical activity guidelines. The figures on the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise are published for the last time in 2017.

Inactive

The percentage of persons of 12 years or older who are inactive. A person is considered to be inactive if there is not a single day in which there is compliance with the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise.

Semi-active

The percentage of persons of 12 years or older who are semi-active. A person is considered to be semi-active if the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise is not met, but if he or she still is normally active at least 1 and at the most 6 days (youngsters from 12 up to and including 17 years of age) or at most 4 days (adults).

Norm-active

The percentage of persons of 12 years or older who are norm-active. A person is considered to be norm-active if he or she complies with the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise.

Sexual health, 16 years or older

The questions on sexual health are asked to persons aged 16 years or older.

High risk sexual activity

The percentage of persons of 16 years or older who's last sexual encounter (that must have taken place in the last 12 months) had a high risk. High risk sex is defined as sexual intercourse or anal sex that takes place without protection (condom) with a partner with whom the person is not in a steady relationship.

Risk unplanned pregnancy, 16-49 years

The percentage of women aged 16 to 49 years that is at risk for an unplanned pregnancy. A risk of having an unplanned pregnancy exists if a woman has sex without using contraceptives, while she is not already pregnant or tries to get pregnant and while she and/or her partner is not being infertile or sterilized.
The percentage of women at risk for an unplanned pregnancy is too high for the years from 2014 till 2016. The figures for 2017 and 2018 are not published for that reason. From 2019 onwards this figure will be published again, but cannot be compared with the previous years.

HIV-test

The percentage of persons of 16 years or older who have been tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

STD-test (excluding HIV-test)

The percentage of persons of 16 years or older who have been tested for a sexually transmittable disease (STD) other than HIV in the last 12 months.

Use of contraception (pill incl.), 16-49

The percentage of the sexually active women aged 16 to 49 years who use contraceptives, such as the contraception pill, condom, IUD, or sterilization. A woman is considered to be sexually active, if she has had sex in the last 12 months. As of 2021, the question about contraceptive methods, other than the contraceptive pill, has changed. Where previously it was asked “Do you currently use another method of contraception, for example condoms, a IUD or sterilization?”, with the answer options 'yes', 'no' and 'no answer', from 2021 you will be asked “Do you currently use (any) other contraception?”, with the answer options 'no', 'yes condoms', 'yes, a copper IUD', 'yes, a hormone IUD', 'yes, you have been sterilized', 'yes your partner has been sterilized', 'yes another method' and 'no answer'. Explicitly naming the different methods as an answer option may have resulted in a higher number of yes answers. It is therefore not easy to compare figures on contraceptive use from 2020 and earlier with figures from 2021 and later.

Use of contraceptive pill, 16-49 years

For the years 2014-2016 and since 2020: the percentage of women aged 16 to 49 years who use the contraceptive pill. For the years 2017-2019: the percentage of sexually active women aged 16 to 49 years who use the contraceptive pill. Women are sexually active if they have had sex in the last 12 months.
The percentages since 2020 are therefore comparable to the percentages of 2014-2016, but not to those for 2017-2019.