Ukraine launches the STEPS Survey on Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors

“The war claims the lives of Ukrainians every day. However, it is important to remember that more than a thousand lives are also lost daily due to cardiovascular diseases, prematurely, often in cases where these deaths could have been prevented. This is another silent crisis that does not disappear even during wartime and is only intensifying. Stress and exhaustion are affecting both risk factors and people’s health. Seven years ago, the first phase of the STEPS survey provided us with important data on the health status of Ukrainians and revealed a high prevalence of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases. Today, after years of full-scale war, it is especially important for us to understand how these indicators have changed. That is why conducting a new round of STEPS in Ukraine is critically important. Updated data will allow us to more accurately set priorities, adjust our daily work, and implement solutions that truly work. An example of such a solution is the “Health Screening 40+” program, which is already helping thousands of Ukrainians take care of their health and respond to risks in a timely manner. After all, prevention works, and it is important not only for the healthcare system but also for the economy, security, and the future of the country.”

said Tetiana Skapa, Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

“Several years have passed since the WHO STEPS survey was conducted in Ukraine in 2019, and in 2026, we are launching a new phase of data collection. This data will provide an up-to-date picture of the population’s health status at the national level. We will obtain the latest information on the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and associated risk factors, and we will also be able to assess the impact of war and pandemics on public health. In 2019, one in three people smoked, nearly sixty percent were overweight, and one in three had raised blood pressure. Noncommunicable diseases affect human capital in Ukraine and require cross-sectoral solutions to reduce the impact of commercial factors on health, as well as increased attention from the healthcare system. It is symbolic that we are announcing STEPS on World Health Day as a reminder that every step we take for health today shapes the country’s future.”

said Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.

“Today, the healthcare system is operating amid a full-scale war, facing constant strain, population displacement, and limited access to services in some regions. Under these circumstances, it is especially important to have up-to-date, representative data on the population’s health status. The STEPS survey will enable us to assess thousands of people across the country and understand how behavioral risk factors, access to preventive services, and the needs of various population groups have changed since 2019. This is an essential foundation for making decisions that will help the healthcare system respond more effectively to challenges and provide people with the services they need, even under the most difficult conditions.”

said Volodymyr Kurpita, Director General of the Public Health Center at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

“Our key priority is to ensure high-quality data collection and adherence to international methodologies at all stages of the survey. STEPS employs a standardized approach that yields reliable and representative results. This data quality forms the foundation for further analysis and evidence-based decision-making in public health.”

said Tetiana Bondar, Director of the Oleksandr Yaremenko Ukrainian Institute of Social Research.