Public Views of H1N1 II

Public Views of H1N1 II

topbarimage (topbarimage.jpg)

FIELD DATES: May 5-6, 2009

SELECT FINDINGS:

  • Americans’ response to the outbreak – Two-thirds of the public (67%) reported that they or someone in their household has washed their hands or used hand sanitizer more frequently in response to reports about H1N1 flu, while a majority (55%) said they have made preparations to stay at home if they or a family member is sick.
  • Concerns about the outbreak – About six in ten Americans (61%) were not currently concerned that they or someone in their immediate family may get sick from H1N1 flu in the next 12 months. However, three-fourths (77%) said they are closely following news about the recent H1N1 flu outbreak.
  • Parents’ concerns – Nearly half (48%) of parents of children under age 18 and currently enrolled in school were concerned that they or a family member will get sick from H1N1 flu in the next 12 months. This level of concern is significantly higher than it was among people who do not have children in school (36%).
  • Satisfaction with public health officials – More than eight in ten Americans said they are satisfied with the way that public health officials had managed the response to the outbreak (83%) and with the information public health officials had been providing (88%).

METHODS AND SAMPLE: Telephone poll conducted with a representative national sample of 1,013 adults age 18 and over, including oversamples of non-Hispanic African Americans and Hispanics. 112 non-Hispanic African Americans and 130 Hispanics were interviewed. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: