Health interview surveys in the period 1993–2002

In the period 1993–2002, sample surveys on health issues (or health interview surveys) were performed in the Czech Republic every three years, i.e. in the years 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2002. The task of performing these surveys was assigned to the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, and the surveys were mainly based on internationally recognised documents and questioning tools. Some of these surveys were performed with the support of international organisations.

The main features of these surveys were as follows:

• The target population was aged over 15.
• The selection of respondents from the Register of Inhabitants was random and stratified.
• The samples included 1600–3400 respondents.
• The network of inquirers was arranged by regional workplaces of IHIS.
• The response rate was relatively high, ranging between 65% and 70%.
• Proxy interviews were only allowed in exceptional cases.
• Weights were not used during data processing.

The surveys were not obligatory and unified methodology, which would ensure harmonisation across the EU countries, was not available at the time.