Though citizens are able to access free health care in T&T, a recent survey showed people have little faith in or did not trust the health care system. Citizens were, however, more confident of the service at private health institutions than at public health facilities. This is what the latest findings of a nation-wide survey on current issues conducted by the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine for the Trinidad Guardian has revealed. A total of 510 respondents participated in the survey during the period April 13 to 16. Participants ranged from 18 years and over with 39 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 39 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 21per cent Mixed persons and one per cent other groups. The sample consisted of 53 per cent females. Respondents were selected using the Random Digit Dialing Method. The survey was supervised by Dr Derek Chadee, Manager, ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine. If you were to undertake a major surgical operation, how much confidence would you have in medical professionals in the public health care system?
In response to this question, over 70 per cent of respondents indicated that they would have "little to no confidence" in medical professionals in the public health care system if they were to undertake a major surgical operation. Specifically, two per cent stated they have "extreme confidence", 22 per cent "confidence", 44 per cent "little confidence", 29 per cent "no confidence" and four per cent "don't know". For the analysis that follows "extreme confidence" and "confidence" categories were recoded into a single category (confidence) and "little confidence" and "no confidence" was also placed into a single category (no confidence). Analysing responses by ethnicity showed similar results across groups as 76 per cent Mixed, 73 per cent Indo-Trinidadians and 72 per cent Afro-Trinidadians indicated they would have "no confidence" in medical professionals in the public health care system. Persons indicating they would have "confidence" were 25 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 24 per cent Mixed and 21 per cent Afro-Trinidadians. With regards to sex, there were no differences as 73 per cent of males and females indicated they have "no confidence" and 24 per cent females and 23 per cent males indicated they have "confidence" in medical professionals in the public health care system if they were to undertake a major surgical operation.
Assessing responses by age showed that younger adults were the most likely to indicate that they have "no confidence" in medical professionals. Specifically, 82 per cent of the 18-30, 79 per cent 31-40, 76 per cent 41-55 and 62 per cent 56 plus age group stated "no confidence". Older adults were the most likely to indicate they have "confidence" -31 per cent of the 18-30, 20 per cent 31-40, 21 per cent 41-55 and 17 per cent 56 plus age group gave that response. Exploring responses by education showed that technical/vocational educated persons were the most likely to indicate they have "no confidence" in medical professionals in the public health care system. Specifically, 79 per cent technical/vocational, 74 per cent secondary, 72 per cent university and 67 per cent primary educated persons indicated they have "no confidence". Persons indicating they have "confidence" in medical professionals in the public health care system were 29 per cent primary, 25 per cent university, 23per cent secondary and 14per cent technical/vocational educated persons. Respondents, however, expressed very little confidence in safely delivering babies at the nation's public hospitals. If you were a parent to be, how much confidence would you have in a public hospital to safely deliver your baby?
With regards to this question, approximately three quarter of respondents indicated they have "little to no confidence" in a public hospital to safely deliver their baby, if they were a parent to be. Specifically, three per cent indicated they would have "extreme confidence", 19 per cent "much confidence", 39 per cent "little confidence", 35 per cent "no confidence" with four per cent don't know". For the analysis that follows "extreme confidence" and "confidence" categories were recoded into a single category (confidence) and "little confidence" and "no confidence" was also placed into a single category (no confidence). Across ethnic groups there were similar findings for respondents stating "no confidence" as 76 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 74 per cent Mixed and 73 per cent Afro-Trinidadians gave that response. Persons indicating that they have "confidence" in the public hospitals to safely deliver their baby were 25 per cent Mixed, 21 per cent Indo-Trinidadians and 21 per cent Afro-Trinidadians. Similar findings were observed between the gender groups as 75 per cent females and 73 per cent males stated they have "no confidence" and 23 per cent females and 21 per cent males said they have "confidence" in the public hospitals to safely deliver their baby if they were a parent to be.
Meanwhile, a large per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the treatment at private health institutions. If you were a parent to be, how much confidence would you have in a private hospital to safely deliver your baby? With regards to this question, over 70 per cent of respondents indicated that they were "confident" in a private hospital safely delivering their baby. Specifically, 20 per cent said they have "extreme confidence", 52 per cent "much confidence", 17 per cent "little confidence", five per cent "no confidence" and seven per cent "don't know". For the analysis that follows "extreme confidence" and "confidence" categories were recoded into a single category and "little confidence" and "no confidence" was also placed into a single category. Assessing responses by ethnicity showed that Afro-Trinidadians (65 per cent) were less likely than Mixed (78 per cent) and Indo-Trinidadians (74 per cent) to state they had "confidence" in a private hospital safely delivering their baby if they were parents to be. Persons stating they had "no confidence" were 27 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 19 per cent Indo-Trinidadians and 18 per cent Mixed persons.
Marginal differences were observed between the gender groups, as males (75per cent) were slightly more likely than females (68 per cent) to state they have "confidence" in the private hospitals to deliver their baby safely. "No confidence" was stated by 23 per cent females and 20 per cent males. Analysing responses by age showed that younger persons were more likely to state they had "confidence" in private hospitals to safely deliver their baby. Specifically, 79 per cent of the 18-30, 75 per cent 31-40, 70 per cent 41-55 and 66 per cent 56 plus age group stated they have "confidence". Persons indicating they have "no confidence" in private hospitals safely delivering their baby were 17 per cent of the 18-30, 25 per cent 31-40, 21 per cent 41-55 and 23 per cent 56 plus age group. Across educational groups, a 19 per cent difference was observed between university and primary educated persons stating they have "confidence". Specifically, 78 per cent university, 74 per cent secondary, 65 per cent technical/vocational and 59 per cent primary educated persons said they have "confidence" in private hospitals safely delivering their baby. Primary educated persons were the most likely to indicate they had "no confidence" as 28 per cent primary, 26 per cent technical/vocational, 20 per cent university and 18 per cent secondary educated persons gave that response.
Ratings
If you were a parent to be, how much confidence would you have in a private hospital to safely deliver your baby?
Extreme Confidence 20%
Much Confidence 52%
Little Confidence 17%
No Confidence 5%
Don't know 7%
Ratings
If you were a parent to be, how much confidence would you have in a public hospital to safely deliver your baby?
Extreme Confidence 3%
Much Confidence 19%
Little Confidence 39%
No Confidence 35%
Don't know 4%
Public Comments
If you were a parent to be, how much confidence would you have in a public hospital to safely deliver your baby?
CONFIDENCE
I never had problems delivering any of my children in a public hospital.
LITTLE CONFIDENCE
The service was really poor, I had to wait long to get attention.
Some of the doctors are careless.
The primary health care may be good but the secondary health care needs attending. Some nurses are callous and mistreat patients who need their attention.
NO CONFIDENCE
The public health care system is in serious need of an overhaul.
The nurses do not attend to you.
Doctors need to account for their actions. In the public health care system, some doctors feel they are demi gods. Disciplinary actions needs to be implemented for both doctors and nurses.
If you were a parent to be, how much confidence would you have in a private hospital to safely deliver your baby?
CONFIDENCE
They cater to your every need and you get special attention.
You get more individual attention than a hospital.
You get service for your money.
LITTLE CONFIDENCE
It does not matter to me. Both public and private are the same, the only difference is the money.