Other

When comparing the actual data and the ideal there is a certain problem lying in the fact that while the survey covers respondents of all age categories over 15 years of age, people involved in reproduction are aged mostly between 20 to 35 years of age. Therefore, the opinions of the youngest respondents, in our case people under 30, are decisive. Compared with the other respondents, this group also partially differed in its opinions, when they more often consider 30 years or more to be the ideal age of newly-weds and mothers of the first child.

In the January Public Opinion Research Centre survey, a question from the ISSP international survey, which took place in the Czech Republic in 1999, was used. The target was to establish if and how the opinions of the public about premarital and out-of-marriage sex as well as sex between partners of the same sex had changed. Premarital sexual activities were valued in the most tolerant way, out-of-marriage sexual relations of married women and men are not seen that forgivingly.

Citizens still have the persisting concept of a man – the breadwinner and on the other hand a woman looking after the household and children. Particularly, the man should financially support the family. Then there are activities, which should be carried out by both partners, or should belong more to men – pursuit of a professional career, further education, getting involved in social functions, initiative in sex, hobbies.

The intention of the Ministry of Health to introduce uniform prices for the same medicaments in various pharmacies was agreed with by 76 % and disagreed with by 13 % of citizens. 11 % did not have an opinion. Uniform prices of medicaments were more often supported by people over 60 years of age, citizens with secondary education and the population with a poor standard of living. From the point of view of political preferences, these are predominantly supporters of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and Czech Social Democrats.

The health care system in their country is rated best by inhabitants of the CZ with 39 % satisfied and 20 % dissatisfied; 39 % is half-satisfied. Poles and mainly Hungarians are significantly more critical towards their health care system. In Poland there are 26% satisfied, 23 % half-satisfied and almost a half of the population are dissatisfied (47 %). However, greatest reservations are communicated by the Hungarian public that mostly rate the health care system negatively (53 %) and only 15 % favourably.

People put the most trust in those close to them and in themselves. From individuals, who influence the opinions of citizens, teachers and television and radio presenters enjoy the greatest trust. Confidence in public opinion researchers, newspaper journalists and mayors is considerably lower, and it gets even worse for priests. Trust in senators and politicians is very low, when only about every fifth respondent voiced his trust in them.

At the end of November and beginning of December last year, 30 % of respondents described their health condition as being good and 49 % as being quite good. A fifth saw it as bad and one percent as very bad. One third (33 %) of respondents said that they regularly looked after their health, about a half (49 %) sometimes and almost one fifth (18 %) not at all. As disclosed by respondents, they care for their health more often by doing sports, furthermore by staying in the countryside – going for walks and trips, and observing rules of a correct regime of living, or more precisely healthy diet.

42 % of citizens think that damages caused by the floods could have been prevented; on the other hand 44 % believe that these damages were predominantly inevitable. With the exception of the President, whose acts during the period of floods were perceived by the public mainly in a critical manner (62 %), all other bodies, involved in one way or another in activities connected with the flood disaster and in eliminating its consequences, are valued positively with great prevalence.

Respondents give the most favourable assessment to education at elementary schools and grammar schools. In case of pupils of elementary schools, development of independence is valued most favourably (51%) as well as a grasp of the world (50%), and for secondary school pupils it was acquisition of skills (71%). Large (78%) consensus exists for the possible extension of the possibilities of studying at universities, 65% of respondents expressed their disagreement with introducing school fees at universities and 34% of respondents agree with the proposal to cut down on the number of teachers and raise the salaries of those remaining.

18 % of citizens, in whose place of living or its vicinity floods caused larger damage, noted down damage to “other” property of the family (a holiday house - etc.). 11 % of respondents mentioned a damaged flat/house and damage to trade. The open question of if people incurred harm or problems in connection with floods other than damage to property was answered by stating most often problems with transport, various psychological conditions – shock, grief over what had happened or possible fear of the floods re-occurring.