With regard to this question, more than half of respondents gave a rating of "poor" performance on healthcare. Specifically, one per cent said "excellent," 15 per cent said "good," 33 per cent said "fair," 34 per cent said "poor" and 17 per cent said "extremely poor." For the analyses that follow, the responses "excellent" and "good" were recoded into the category "good," while "poor" and "extremely poor" were recoded into the category "poor."Across ethnic groups there were no major significant differences to this question: the response of "poor" was indicated by 56 per cent of Afro-Trinidadians, 50 per cent Mixed and 47 per cent Indo-Trinidadians. Of those who indicated "fair," 33 per cent were Indo-Trinidadian, 33 per cent Mixed and 32 per cent Afro-Trinidadian. Afro-Trinidadians were slightly less likely to state that the Government's performance on healthcare was "good." Particularly, 20 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 17 per cent Mixed and 12 per cent Afro-Trinidadians gave this rating.
Analysing responses by sex showed that males and females rated similarly with regard to this question. Specifically, 52 per cent of females and 49 per cent males responded "poor." The response of "fair" was stated by 35 per cent males and 31 per cent females. The response of "good" was stated by 17 per cent females and 16 per cent males.Exploring responses by age showed that "poor" was stated by 43 per cent 18-30, 52 per cent 31-40, 55 per cent 41-50 and 54 per cent 51 and over age group. The response of "fair" was stated by 37 per cent 18-30, 29 per cent 31-40, 32 per cent 41-50 and 31 per cent in the 51 and over age group. Of those responding "good," 20 per cent were 18-30, 19 per cent 31-40, 13 per cent 41-50 and 15 per cent 51 and over category.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
How would you rate the performance of the Government over the last three years on healthcare?
EXTREMELY POOR/POOR
Too many people and babies dying in the hospitals.
The standard we were accustomed to has dropped, they do not take care of you properly in the hospital again.
FAIR
The healthcare system will improve but it will take some time.
GOOD/EXCELLENT
Trinidad is one of the few places in the world you would get free healthcare.
Analysing responses by education showed that there were no significant differences across groups who gave a rating of "poor." In particular, 56 per cent technical/vocational, 54 per cent primary, 51 per cent secondary and 49 per cent tertiary educated people gave this response.The response of "fair" was stated by 34 per cent tertiary, 33 per cent primary, 32 per cent secondary and 30 per cent technical/vocational educated people. The rating of "good" was stated by 17 per cent secondary, 17 per cent tertiary, 14 per cent technical/vocational and 13 per cent primary educated people.These results are from a nationwide survey on current issues by the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, for the T&T Guardian. The main intention of this survey is to assess popular opinion on a number of major issues.A representative random sample of 503 respondents were interviewed and comprised people 18 years and over with 34 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 40 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 25 per cent Mixed and one per cent other ethnic groups.The sample consisted of 51 per cent females. Respondents were selected using the Random Digit Dialling Method. The margin of error is plus or minus four per cent.This poll was conducted during the period May 10-12 and was supervised by Dr Derek Chadee, director, ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre and senior lecturer, Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine.
