Americans Support Aid to Global Health, Poll Says
FrontLines - July 2009
The majority of Americans believe the U.S. government should fund efforts to improve people’s health in developing countries, even though a recession
is taking its toll, according to a poll released May 20.
Some 64 percent of those questioned supported U.S. aid for health programs abroad while 35 percent were opposed.
The poll of 1,004 Americans, conducted from March 25 to April 6, was carried out by World Public Opinion, a project managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland.
While the poll found that support
for U.S. aid is grounded in altruistic concern for the poor, it also comes with a belief that, due to globalization, a health crisis anywhere could have an impact on Americans.
Eighty percent endorsed the idea that “these programs help people in poor countries be more productive and grow economically.
This gives people a chance to thrive, and thus promotes global prosperity,” the poll reported.
And 75 percent agreed that “global health programs express Americans’ key values—compassion,
generosity, and a desire to share knowledge that betters people’s lives.”
The idea that “these programs strengthen the image of the U.S. as a positive influence in the world, which makes cooperation
between the U.S. and other countries easier,” was endorsed by 73 percent.
In addition, the poll showed Americans support programs abroad such as improving maternal and child health in poor countries; providing reproductive health services; and strengthening
overall health systems.
An overwhelming majority supports U.S. contributions to the World Health Organization and most said it is best to give aid through international efforts, rejecting arguments that when the United States acts on its own, it has more control over how aid is spent and gets more credit for results.
Most people mistakenly believed that the United States contributes a far higher percentage
of its wealth in aid than do other donors. Only 11 percent thought, correctly, that the United States (along with Japan) gave the lowest percentage of all the 22 donor countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
To see the entire poll, go to: www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/may09/WPO_IOM_May09_rpt.pdf.
★
FrontLines is published
by the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs
U.S. Agency for International Development
To have FrontLines delivered
to you via postal mail, please subscribe.
Material should be submitted
by mail to Editor, FrontLines, USAID,
RRB, Suite 6.10, Washington, DC 20523-6100;
by FAX to 202-216-3035; or by e-mail to frontlines@usaid.gov
To view PDF files, download
the Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
Back to Top ^
|
