Public Health Management Corporation Releases Results of Major Health Survey

Findings Will Shape Future Health Programs and Initiatives for Local Residents

PHILADELPHIA (February 10, 2011) — After an extensive survey of the health and well-being of area residents, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), through its Community Health Data Base (CHDB), today released the data findings of the 2010 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey. Approximately 10,000 households throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties were randomly contacted by phone and asked questions about health screenings, use of health services, health insurance and personal health behaviors. Hundreds of organizations in the region will use the information gathered to plan and improve health services for area residents, including children, adults and older adults.

PHMC has added new questions to every survey since its inception in 1983, in response to local and national changes in health status and health care. The addition of timely topics keeps the Household Health Survey relevant, dynamic and responsive. This year the survey incorporates more than twelve new topic areas including gambling, disability status, and addiction and recovery. Additional questions asked only of Philadelphia adults and children cover menu labeling and sugary beverage consumption. The 2010 survey also examines a core set of health indicators for the Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) region including health insurance coverage, obesity and cigarette purchases.

Selected key findings from the 2010 Household Health Survey new topic areas include:

  • More than one in three adults residing in SEPA (34.6%) have bet money on card games, casino or internet gambling, bingo, lottery or scratch-off tickets, sports, pool or other activities.
  • Nearly one in seven adults in SEPA (13.9%) has a physical, mental, or emotional disability or condition.
  • Nearly one in ten adults living in SEPA (9.0%) once had an alcohol or drug problem.

Additional questions focus exclusively on Philadelphia adults and children. Key findings include:

  • Nearly two in five Philadelphia adults (38.0%) changed their food choice to a lower calorie option due to menu labeling.
  • In Philadelphia, more than one in ten adults (11.5%) and one in ten children (10.0%) drink soda at least once per day.
  • Fifteen percent of adults and 20.8% of children in Philadelphia drink fruit juices or bottled teas at least once daily.

Selected findings from the core set of health indicators for the SEPA region include:

  • More than one in ten SEPA adults 18-64 years of age (11.4%) and 3.4% of SEPA children 0-17 years of age do not have health insurance coverage. The percentage of adults without health insurance coverage has slightly increased from 2008 and slightly decreased among children.
  • In SEPA, 26.3% of adults and 19.2% of children are obese. The percentage of adults who are obese slightly increased from 2008, while obesity rates held steady for children.
  • In SEPA, 20.3% of adults currently smoke cigarettes, which has remained consistent from 2008.

The survey data provide a unique, in-depth view into the health and well-being of the region’s residents. Hospitals, government agencies, universities, managed care organizations, community-based nonprofits and others will use information from the survey to assess community health needs, address community health concerns and plan, implement and evaluate community health initiatives.

CHDB’s Household Health Survey is one of the largest regional health surveys in the country. CHDB is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Foundation, CIGNA Foundation, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, United Way of North Penn, North Penn Community Health Foundation, the Scattergood Foundation and over 400 local agencies from the health, government, nonprofit and academic sectors. For more information, please visit www.chdbdata.org.

For more information on the Household Health Survey or PHMC’s Community Health Data Base, contact Francine Axler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 215.985.2521.