Catholics More Prone To 'Bad' Health

Catholics in Northern Ireland are more likely than Protestants to assess their general health as either 'bad' or 'very bad', according to new 2011 census results published today.

The census found these differences were more noticeable in older age groups.

Among those aged 45-64, 11% of Catholics, compared with 8.4% of Protestants, were in either 'bad' or 'very bad' general health.

In addition, among those aged 65 and over, 18% of Catholics compared with 13% of Protestants were in either 'bad' or 'very bad' general health.

The census also found that, overall, for those living in households, the proportion rises from under 1% among those aged 0-9 assessing their health as 'bad' or 'very bad', to 10% among those in their fifties and 17% among those aged 85 and over.

Results also showed an association between general health and economic activity.

79% of those aged 16-74 who considered their general health to be 'very good' were economically active in the week preceding Census Day.

This is compared with 9.4% among those whose health was 'very bad'.

1% of those aged 16-74 who considered their general health as 'very good' were classified as 'long-term sick or disabled', compared with 58% of those whose general health was 'very bad'.

The census also revealed information regarding religion and age.

In 2011, over half (52%) of usual residents who were or had been brought up as Catholics were aged under 35, compared with two-fifths (40%) of those who belonged to or had been brought up in Protestant denominations.

(IT/CD)