Indonesian Population's Health Status and Happiness Index: A Comparison from 2017 and 2021

A country's happiness index (HI) reflects its welfare and quality of life. Indonesia has assessed HI thrice, but the results have not been reviewed from a health perspective. This study aimed to compare the HI of the Indonesian population in 2017 and 2021 and determine the health status that affected the HI in 2017 and 2021. This study used data from the Happiness Level Measurement Survey (SPTK) reports 2017, 2021, and Health Statistics reports 2017, 2021. The SPTK was conducted in 34 provinces. There were 75,000 subjects with provincial-level representation who participated. Sample selection used two-stage one-phase sampling. Data were compiled and transferred to data entry and processed using the SPSS version 15 statistical program. Linear regression was used for analysis. Based on the analysis of the Indonesian HI in 2017 and 2021, there was an increase of 0.8 points, specifically in 2021, having health complaints and outpatients in the last month affecting the population's HI, namely β=-302, p=0.047, and β=-0.117, p=0.036 consecutively. This finding is also consistent with the dimensions of life satisfaction and affect. Meanwhile, health complaints experienced in the last month only affected the eudaimonia dimension, namely β=-0.322, p=0.057. In contrast to 2017, in the affect dimension, there was a relationship between health status, namely outpatient and inpatient, β=-0.129, p=0.052, and β=1.52, p=0.006, respectively. Concerning health status, there is a difference in the HI between 2021 and 2017, and one event that should be considered is the COVID-19 pandemic. Undergoing outpatient treatment during a pandemic reduces happiness and affect. For this reason, it is necessary to improve the health system which allows people who are sick or need health assistance to still be able to visit their health facilities.