Public Views of the Zika Virus Outbreak Technical Assistance for National Public Health Information Coalition Harvard Opinion Research Program Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 1
Methodology Summary Telephone poll (landline and cell phone) Randomized digit dial (RDD) Interviews March 2-8, 2016 English and Spanish 1,275 Adults age 18+, including oversample of women 18-44 Includes 177 people who self-identify as Hispanic Includes 161 people who self-identify as African American Includes 105 people who self-identify as having some in their household who is pregnant or is considering becoming pregnant within 12 months Data weighted to match US census data according to age-gender, education, race/ethnicity, marital status, cell phone status and population density (according to respondents county) Data for oversample weighted to account for true fraction of population according to US census data, as well as to account for sampling procedures and pre-screening required for shorter field periods Sampling error: +3.2% Please note: Numbers may not add to total or 100% due to rounding. Respondents saying don t know are not necessarily shown if <5%. Numbers in this presentation may be refined through further analyses. Detailed methodology under separate cover. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 2
Majority Following News about Zika Virus Outbreak % saying they are following news about the current outbreak of Zika virus Very closely Somewhat closely Not too closely 14% 38% 25% (78%) 52% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 3 n=1275
Television and Internet are Top Zika Outbreak News Sources Among those following Zika outbreak news, % saying they get most of their news about the outbreak from Television 54% Internet 31% Newspapers 7% Radio 6% Magazines 0% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 4 n=997
Public Health Institutions Widely Trusted for Information about Zika Virus Outbreak % saying they trust information about the outbreak that comes from each institution A lot Some Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 46% 32% (78%) National Institutes of Health (NIH) 36% 31% (67%) Their state public health department 32% 36% (68%) Their local public health department 29% 38% (67%) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 5 n=1275
Quarter of Public Concerned about Personal Infection with Fewer Believing it is Likely to Happen % saying they are concerned that they or someone in their family may get infected with Zika virus during the next 12 months Very concerned Somewhat concerned 14% 11% (25%) % saying they think it is likely that they or someone in their family may get infected with Zika virus during the next 12 months Very likely Somewhat likely 3%5% (8%) Each question asked of half sample: top question n= 611; bottom question n=664 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 6
Majority Know Key Modes of Transmission % saying a person can get infected with Zika virus Through mosquito bites 87% From mother to baby during pregnancy 78% Through blood transfusions 71% Through sexual intercourse without condoms 60% Through contact with urine or saliva of someone who has Zika virus 44% By being sneezed or coughed on by someone who has Zika virus 31% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 7 n=1275
Most Believe Infected People are Likely to Have Symptoms % saying a person who gets infected with Zika virus is likely to have symptoms Very likely Somewhat likely 23% 48% (71%) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 8 n=1275
Only Fever Recognized by Majority as Common Symptom % saying, if a person infected with Zika virus gets symptoms, each is a common symptom Fever 68% Headache 49% Joint pain 41% Coughing and sneezing 35% Rash 34% Conjunctivitis or red eyes 18% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 9 n=1275
Majority Aware of Link to Microcephaly but Not Guillain-Barré; Same Fraction Incorrectly Link Zika to Pneumonia % saying each health complication has been associated with Zika virus Microcephaly 75% Guillain-Barré Syndrome 29% Pneumonia 30% Exact response text is as follows: A birth defect in babies born to infected mothers, where the baby s head is unusually small and can be a sign of incomplete brain development, also called microcephaly A form of paralysis, also called Guillain-Barré Syndrome An infection of the lungs, also called pneumonia n=1275 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 10
Public who Know Microcephaly Believe Risk from Zika Virus is High Among those who say microcephaly is associated with Zika virus, % saying, if a pregnant woman gets infected with Zika virus, her baby is likely to be born with microcephaly Very likely Somewhat likely 54% 38% (92%) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 11 n=979
Public who Know Microcephaly Believe No Protection from Harms After Mother is Infected Among those who say microcephaly is associated with Zika virus % saying there is no effective way for a pregnant woman infected with Zika virus to protect her baby from getting microcephaly 66% % saying no effective treatment exists for a baby born with microcephaly 75% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 12 n=979
Majority who Know Microcephaly Believe Zika Virus Can Harm Future Pregnancies Among those who say microcephaly is associated with Zika virus, % saying, if a woman who is NOT pregnant gets infected with the Zika virus, it is likely to harm future pregnancies Very likely Somewhat likely 17% 35% (53%) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 13 n=979
Public who Know Guillain-Barré Believe Risk from Zika Virus is High Among those who say Guillain-Barré Syndrome is associated with Zika virus, % saying, if an adult gets infected with Zika virus, they are likely to get serious paralysis Very likely Somewhat likely 13% 43% (57%) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 14 n=376
Public who Know Guillain-Barré Believe No Treatment for Paralysis Exists Among those who say Guillain-Barré Syndrome is associated with Zika virus, % saying, for adults who get serious paralysis No, an effective treatment doesn t exist 59% Yes, there is an effective treatment 22% Don t know 19% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 15 n=376
Most Know There is No Zika Vaccine % saying No, there isn t a vaccine against Zika virus 72% Yes, there is a vaccine against Zika virus 11% Don t know 16% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 16 n=1275
Public Routinely Takes Precautions Against Mosquito Bites Take precautions % saying they routinely 67% Wear insect repellant 56% Remove standing water 55% Replace or repair window screens 46% Avoid activities or areas that would bring them in contact with mosquitoes 43% Wear long-sleeved shirts or other protective clothing outdoors 39% Use mosquito netting 16% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 17 n=1275
Public Supports Spraying Against Mosquitoes If There are Cases Where They Live % saying, if there were cases of people getting infected with Zika virus in their city or town, they would approve of special spraying against mosquitos At the ground level 81% From the air 66% Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 18 n=1275
Focus on Racial/Ethnic Minorities Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 19
Racial/Ethnic Minorities More Concerned about Infection % saying they are concerned that they or someone in their family may get infected with Zika virus during the next 12 months Hispanic 44%* African American 36%* White 18% * Denotes differences that are both statistically significant and at least 10 percentage points compared to those who are white Asked of half sample: Hispanic n=86; African American n=80; White n=388 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 20
Racial/Ethnic Minorities More Likely to Have Misinformation about Key Modes of Transmission % saying a person can get infected with Zika virus From mother to baby during pregnancy Hispanic 69%* African American 86% White 81% By being sneezed or coughed on by someone who has Zika virus Hispanic 41%* African American 40%* White 27% * Denotes differences that are both statistically significant and at least 10 percentage points compared to those who are white Hispanic n=177; African American n=161; White n=807 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 21
Rash More Frequently Recognized as Common Symptom by African Americans % saying, if a person infected with Zika virus gets symptoms, each is a common symptom Rash Hispanic 28% African American 47%* White 33% * Denotes differences that are both statistically significant and at least 10 percentage points compared to those who are white Hispanic n=177; African American n=161; White n=807 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 22
African Americans More Likely to Believe There is a Zika Vaccine % saying Yes, there is a vaccine against Zika virus Hispanic 16% African American 21%* White 9% * Denotes differences that are both statistically significant and at least 10 percentage points compared to those who are white Hispanic n=177; African American n=161; White n=807 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 23
Focus on People Living in Households with People who are Pregnant or Considering Becoming Pregnant Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 24
People in Key Households More Likely to be At All Concerned about Infection % saying they are at all concerned that they or someone in their family may get infected with Zika virus during the next 12 months In a pregnant or considering HH 43%* NOT in a pregnant or considering HH 26% At all concerned = very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not very concerned * Denotes differences that are both statistically significant and at least 10 percentage points compared to those who are NOT in a pregnant or considering HH Asked of half sample: In a pregnant or considering HH n=51; NOT in a pregnant or considering HH n=560 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 25
People in Key Households More Likely to Know Key Modes of Transmission % saying a person can get infected with Zika virus From mother to baby during pregnancy In a pregnant or considering HH 88%* NOT in a pregnant or considering HH 77% * Denotes differences that are both statistically significant and at least 10 percentage points compared to those who are NOT in a pregnant or considering HH In a pregnant or considering HH n=105 NOT in a pregnant or considering HH n=1170 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 26
Harvard Opinion Research Program Gillian K. SteelFisher, Research Scientist and Deputy Director of HORP Robert J. Blendon, Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis and Executive Director of HORP Hannah Caporello, Research Assistant William Lodge II, Research Assistant Harvard Opinion Research Program (HORP) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 677 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02115 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zika Virus Poll, March 2-8, 2016 27