Canadians top global AIDS poll as most concerned, compassionate
Ipsos Reid/World Vision survey released today at launch of 24-hour global vigil attended by Premier Dalton McGuinty
TORONTO, Ont. (Nov 29, 2007)—Canadians are the most compassionate towards people affected by HIV and AIDS globally compared to six other countries, according to the new World Vision Index of Concern which was released today leading up to World AIDS Day.
Canada leads the seven nations surveyed for the highest level of empathy its residents feel toward those affected by HIV and AIDS globally, followed by France, Germany, United States, Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan, all members of the G8.
Canadians also scored highest in their self-assessed knowledge about AIDS globally. Seventy-one per cent claim to have “some” or “a lot” of knowledge about the global HIV and AIDS issue.
The World Vision Index of Concern is a proprietary index that combines into one measure six facets of concern about HIV and AIDS globally and is based on a seven-country survey, conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of World Vision, the international humanitarian organization.
The more people feel they know about HIV and AIDS globally, the more concerned they are about the issue and the more compassion they have for those directly affected by it, according to the survey. However, more than 25 years after the HIV virus was first discovered, one-third of those surveyed in the seven countries admit they know little or nothing at all about the global HIV and AIDS issue.
The results were released during the kick-off of a 24-hour global event to honour and raise awareness about children affected by the international AIDS crisis.
“As Canadians, we can take pride in the fact that we are well informed and that information translates into measurable compassion for those affected by AIDS. That compassion is critical in a world where 5,700 adults die of AIDS each day. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, an estimated 12 million children have lost one or both parents to the disease,” said Dirk Booy, executive vice president of World Vision Canada. “We need to ask ourselves; what more can we do?”
The ceremony was attended by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. "We know we could never take a parent's place, but we can stand with these children. We know AIDS is a formidable foe, but we can demonstrate that our hope is stronger," Premier McGuinty said.
Remarkably, in each of the seven countries surveyed, nine out of 10 adults agree “even if we cannot prevent more people from being infected with HIV and AIDS, we have a moral obligation to try.”
“The fact that nine out of 10 people across all seven countries agree on this issue of a moral
obligation is extraordinary,” said Dr. Glenys A. Babcock, vice president of Ipsos Reid Public Affairs.
More Canadians than any other nationality surveyed agree that they should play their part, however small, to help those affected by HIV and AIDS (78 per cent, compared to 74 per cent in the U.S.A., 63 per cent in the U.K. and 62 per cent in Germany).
“At World Vision, we are grateful for all that Canadians are already doing in the battle against AIDS, especially for children,” said Booy. “We want to encourage our government to reflect that compassion and care tangibly by keeping the promises it has made at home and at the G8 summit to contribute more funding towards global AIDS treatment programs.”
The survey reveals that Canadians want their government to do more: 73 per cent of Canadians agree that the government should do much more to help children who are orphaned by AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses around the world.
Toronto children spoke out on behalf of children orphaned by AIDS during the launch of the vigil—entitled 6,000 Reasons to Act—at the CN Tower this morning. Students from Keele Street Public School, joined by Premier McGuinty, read aloud the names of 360 children who have lost one or both parents in communities hard-hit by AIDS. World Vision has organized similar events in 17 cities in 12 countries over the next 24 hours. By the vigil’s conclusion on Friday morning at 9 a.m. in New York City, the names of 6,000 children will have been read.
“Children deserve our best efforts in stemming the tide against the greatest humanitarian disaster of our time,” said Booy. “Today, we’ve honoured 6,000 orphans living in the shadow of AIDS every day. Surely, we don’t need more reasons to act right now.”
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The survey was conducted in September 2007. In each country between 400 and 1002 adults were interviewed by telephone, with a total sample size of 3558 adults. The overall seven-country results are considered accurate to within ±1.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population in the countries been interviewed. These data were weighted within each country to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data and so that each country is given equal weight.
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Motivated by our Christian faith, we serve all people regardless of religion, race, gender or ethnicity.
World Vision has been combating the effects of AIDS in developing countries for more than a decade. Its first programs helped support Ugandan orphans and their foster families, provided care for Romanian infants and children with HIV and helped young Thai women and girls escape prostitution. Today, World Vision has AIDS programs in many of the nearly 100 countries in which it works and served nearly 2 million people with HIV-prevention education and AIDS care and assistance last year. For more information, please visit WorldVision.ca.
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader and the country’s leading provider of public
opinion research. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 300 research
professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in Canada, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and on-line panels. Ipsos Reid’s Canadian marketing research and public affairs practices are staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, offering the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada—including the Ipsos Trend Report, the leading source of public opinion in the country—all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, visit www.ipsos.ca
For more information or to arrange interviews with World Vision staff, please contact:
Key Findings in World Vision's Global AIDS Attitudes Survey
Canadian Statistics
- Canada tops the World Vision Index of Concern for HIV and AIDS globally, followed by France, Germany, U.S.A, Italy, U.K. and Japan.
- 71 per cent of Canadians claim to have "some" or "a lot" of knowledge about the global HIV and AIDS issue.
- 90 per cent of Canadians agree that even if we can't prevent more people from getting infected with HIV, we have a moral obligation to try.
- 73 per cent of Canadians agree that the government should do much more to help children who are orphaned by AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses around the world.
- With regards to the lack of progress by the G8 on HIV and AIDS globally, 52 per cent of Canadians are frustrated, angry or disappointed that they didn't keep their promise.
- The vast majority of Canadians say that HIV and AIDS education programs (91 per cent), condom programs (88 per cent) and increased funding for prevention and treatment programs (88 per cent) should be a high or moderate priority for the government of Canada for slowing the spread of HIV and AIDS globally.
- More Canadians than any other nationality surveyed feel strongly that they should play their part, however small, to help those affected by HIV and AIDS (78 per cent, compared to 74 per cent in the U.S.A., 63 per cent in the U.K. and 62 per cent in Germany).
Global Statistics
- 72 per cent of people in the G7 nations are somewhat or very concerned about the global HIV and AIDS issue, which is on par with concern about the Iraq War (74 per cent). Greater concerns are: poverty & hunger (85 per cent); climate change (81 per cent); terrorism (79 per cent). The global economy ranked last among the issues at 69 per cent.
- 80 per cent agree their government should do much more to help children orphaned by AIDS.
- 64 per cent say they would be willing to donate to charitable organizations helping children around the world affected by HIV and AIDS.
- More women than men are very concerned about HIV and AIDS globally (43 per cent vs. 31 per cent).
- 20 per cent never expected their nations' leaders to honor their commitments made at the 2005 G8 summit to help those affected by HIV and AIDS globally. On the other hand, 52 per cent are disappointed, frustrated or angry that their leaders did not keep their promises. Only 16 per cent believe their country is doing its part.
- HIV testing varies among the seven nations. In France, 42 per cent report having had an HIV test; in Japan, 11 per cent.
- The more people know about HIV and AIDS globally, the more likely they are to be compassionate. Of those who feel they know a lot about HIV and AIDS, half (52 per cent) are very concerned about it and of those who feel they know just a little, only 28 per cent say they are very concerned.
