Muhlenberg College researchers released the results of a new poll conducted through phone interviews with 403 adults in Pennsylvania from Feb. 27 to March 7. The results show evolving attitudes on health-related issues.
On politics and ACA:
16% hold a “very unfavorable” view of the ACA, or Obamacare (half of what was previously reported)
56% of Pennsylvanians polled said that ACA made no difference in their lives.
75% disapprove of Congress’ handling of health care (as opposed to President Obama’s handling).
On obesity:
45% view obesity as a public health issue (increased from 38% in an earlier poll).
48% support taxing junk food
70% favor packaged food warning labels.
80% favor fast-food calorie count labels.
On other issues:
56% of Pennsylvanians polled said the federal government should fund Planned Parenthood, versus 31 percent who said it shouldn’t.
2/3 of Pennsylvanians polled now reject the mistaken link between autism and vaccinations.
The nine key findings as reported:
- Pennsylvanians are split nearly equally in terms of their satisfaction with the quality of health care in the nation with 49% of Pennsylvanians reporting they are satisfied with heath care and 51% dissatisfied with this aspect of life in the United States.
- Residents of the state are evenly divided on President Obama’s handling of health care in the nation but overwhelmingly disapprove of Congress’s handling of this policy area.
- By over a 3 to 1 margin (49% to 15%) Commonwealth residents report positive over negative views about Planned Parenthood.
- A majority of Pennsylvanians indicate that the federal government should continue to provide funds to Planned Parenthood.
- Keystone State residents are equally divided in terms of support for a tax on tax on junk food such as soda, chips, and candy, with 48% supporting such a tax and 49% opposing this option.
- Pennsylvanian views on the complete legalization of marijuana in the state remain fairly stable over the past three years with 39% in favor of legalization and 38% opposed to such a measure.
- Three out of four Commonwealth residents believe that heroin abuse in the United States is a very serious problem.
- Over half of Pennsylvanians personally know someone who has been addicted to heroin or another opiate.
- A majority of Keystone State residents now strongly disagree with the claim that the chances of a child getting autism are increased if they receive the recommended childhood immunizations.
The poll results are posted at https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2772917/PUBHealth2016-Final-Freq.pdf