([Lie tar-tlc*r/eagleton POLL

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1 AIDS CONTINUES TO CONCERN NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS A story based on the survey fincthigs presented in this release and background memo will Sunday editions. Electronic media may release after 5:00 p.m. Saturday, July 22. We ask users to properly attsibute this copyrighted information to the Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll. RELEASE INFORMATION appear in Sundays Star-Ledger. Other newspapers may also use this information in their RELEASE: SL/EP 24-5 (EP 74-5) OR BOB CARTER FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, JULY 23, 1989 CONTACT: JANICE BALLOU Eagleton Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey / T}-E STATh UNMPSIVY 0 SEW.ERWY Audio is available after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, from (201) (Rutgers Feature Phone). ATrENTION RADIO STATIONS: about the disease. -more twice as many non-whites--52 percent--as whites--28--percent would like more information there has been progress in getting information about AIDS to the public. However, almost percent who feel that way in the current poll an increase of 17 points. This suggests that percent of New Jerseyans reported that they knew enough about AIDS compared to 63 residents who feel they have enough information about AIDS. In January of 1988, 46 In the past year and a half there has been a substantial increase in the number of state or someone they know will get AIDS. margin of two to one--non-whites are more likely than whites to be very worried that they information about the disease than non-whites and center city residents. In addition--by a those who do not live in the center cities are more likely to feel they have enough shows that almost all New Jerseyans have read or heard about AIDS. However, whites and The telephone survey, conducted with 800 state residents between June 12 and 20, the number of AIDS cases in the state will increase in the next five years. Jersey. Aiso, according to the latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll, most New Jerseyans feel that Nine out of ten state residents say that AIDS is a serious threat to the general public in New surprising to find that most New Jersey residents continue to be concerned about the disease. In the state that ranks fourth nationally in the total number of AIDS cases, it is not ([Lie tar-tlc*r/eagleton POLL

2 EP74-5 (SL/EP24-5) Page 2 A majority of New Jerseyans--56 percent--say state government should be spending C more on providing information to people about AIDS and over a third of the state s residents are willing to see an increase in their taxes to pay for this effort. The state s newly launched program to go into the cities with a targeted AIDS campaign clearly addresses a need identified in this poll, commented Poll Director Janice Ballou. It is the residents of these cities who say they would like more information and who perceive AIDS as a serious threat. This is not surprising when statistics show that cities such as Newark and Jersey City are in the two counties cases. that lead the state in the number of AIDS The 1i po found a major difference between white and non-white residents with respect to their concern about the risk of AIDS. While 64 AIDS is a very serious threat percent of all New Jerseyans feel that to the general public, 60 percent of white residents compared to 76 percent of non-white residents view A1DS in this way. Center city residents--79 ( percent are also more likely than suburban residents--57 percent--to report that AIDS is a very serious threat. Also, while close to half of New Jersey residents are very or somewhat worried that they or someone they are close to might get AIDS, 60 percent of non-white residents compared to 44 percent of white residents feel this way. Center city residents are also more uneasy about getting AIDS or having someone close to them get AIDS than are residents who live elsewhere. Most residents also think that the threat of AIDS is no longer confined to groups such as homosexuals and intravenous drug users. Forty-five percent say it is very likely that in the next five years the disease will be a threat to all segments of society. Non-whites are more likely to feel this way than whites by a 60 to 40 percent margin. -more-

3 State decision makers not only have to deal with the issue of how to educate the public New Jerseyans think the state is now picking up the costs of this care. health care costs to treat people who have the disease, commented Ballou. A plurality of to prevent an increase in AIDS, they also have to plan for financing the anticipated major -30- state and federal government. percent say the federal government pays and 6 percent think it is a combination of both the AIDS pay most of the cost of their care, 36 percent think the state pays for this care, 28 The current survey finds that while 16 percent of New Jersey residents say those with EP74-5 (SL/EP24-5) Page 3 Copyright: July 23, 1989, The Eagleton Institute and Newark Star-Ledger.

4 Utlic (&-TLCbgCF/EAGLETON POLL BACKGROUNI) MEMO RELEASE SL/EI 24-5 (EP74-5). SUNDAY. JULY ( The latest Star-Leder/Eagleton Poll was conducted between June 12 and 20, 1989, when a random sample of 800 New Jerseyans, 18 years and older, was interviewed by telephone. The sampling error associated with this size sample is ±3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. Sampling error does not take into account the other possible sources of error inherent in any public opinion study. The questions and figures referred to in this release are as follows: Have you read or heard anything about the disease called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome--or AIDS? (IF YES, ASK How much have you read or heard, a lot, some, or just a little?) Not Heard of/ YES--A Lot YES--Some YES--A Little Don t Know Total thi June Total 75% 18% 6% 2% 101% (800) January-February (800) February (600) Race white (640) --non-white (145) In come $20,000 or under (151) --$20,001--$30, (138) --over $30, (435) 1986 Figures are combined for all who said yes. Do you feel that you have as much information about AIDS as you want, or would you like to have more information about it? Have Enough Would Like More Don t Information Information Know Total June Total 63% 34% 3% 100% (800) January-February (800) Race white (640) --non-white (145) Type of Communitv center city (92) --city and old suburb (176) --new suburb (425) --rural (107) * center city includes Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton, Camden, IHE STATE UNVtRSI1V OF NEW JEY IZ.1.J T(3E1?.S Ecgleton Institute ot Pohtics New Brunswick New Jersey /

5 Race 1989 February (600) June 1989 Total 64% 27% 6% 3% 100% (800) January-February (800) Serious Serious Serious Know Thini Oil serious, or not very serious? Very Somewhat Not Very Don t How serious a threat do you think AIDS is to the general public here in New Jersey--very serious, somewhat --center city (92) --rural (107) --new suburb (425) --city and old suburb (176) Type of Cornnnrnitv non-white (145) --white (640) Race 1989 January-February (800) February (600) June 1989 Total 24% 24% 29% 21% 2% 100% (800) Worried Worried Worried Worried Know Total () Very Somewhat Not Too Not At All Don t not too worried, or not at all worried? HOW worried are you that you or someone you are close to might get AIDS--very worried, somewhat worried, June % 6% 9% 5% 101% (800) Don t about the same? Increase Decrease Stay Same Know Total And, in the next 5 years do you think the number of AIDS cases in New Jersey will increase, decrease, or stay --new subuth (425) --city and old suburb (176) --center city (92) --rural (107) Type of Comniunirv non-white (145) --white (640) EP74-5 (SL/EP24 5) - 2 -

6 EP74-5 (SL/EP24-5) Up to now, AIDS has mostly been a threat to such groups as homosexuals and intravenous drug users. How likely is it that over the next 5 years AIDS will become a serious health threat to all segments of society--very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely? Very Somewhat Not Too Not At All Already Don t LikeN Likely Likely Likely A Threat Know Total fj) June Total 45% 32% 14% 4% 1% 4% 100% (800) January-February (800) Race white (640) --non-white (145) Who do you think now pays most of the cost of health care for people with AIDS--the person with AIDS, state government, or the federal government? Both State Patient, State Peopte State Federal & FederaL & FederaL Don t with AIDS Goverrrient Goverrinent Goverrrnent Goverrinent Other Know Total jifi June % 36% 28% 6% 1% 1% 11% 99% (800) - Do you think state government should be spending more, less, or about the same as it is now to inform people about AIDS? More Less Same Don t Know Total (jj June % 5% 34% 5% 100% (800) Race --white (640) --noa-white (145) Type of Cornniunitv --center city (92) --city and old suburb (176) --newsuburb ) (425) --rural (107) Would you be willing to see a slight increase in your state taxes to help pay for this or not? Don t YES--Willing NO--Unwillin Don t Know Spend More Total June % 17% 4% 43% 101% (800)