Health Perceptions

What this means

Things are bad and set to get worse—according to our research that’s how most people feel about the world today. More surprising than the finding itself is how entrenched that sense of doom and gloom is.

In donor countries, three out of four people (74%) felt the world had declined over the last 20 years, and more than 60% felt things would only get worse over the next 20. That heightened negativity correlates with, among many other findings, declining support for ODA.

However, people are more positive about the progress made in health over the last 20 years, and more optimistic about the future of health in the next 20 years, than they are about the world generally.

In donor countries, more than double the amount of people believe health is going to get better (33%) than that the world is (16%). And in the Global South, more than three out of four people (76%) believe global health is going to get better.

Greater positivity about the progress made to date in global health than global progress overall

Global South countries are more positive than donor countries. Opinion Leaders (OLs) are slightly more positive.
Progress in [global health / the world] – over the last 20 years

There is also greater optimism about future progress in global health than global progress overall

Again, there is greater optimism in Global South countries. Opinion Leaders (OLs) are again more optimistic.
Progress in [global health / the world] – over the next 20 years

Innovation is a notable driver of optimism

A range of issues tested increase optimism in the world’s ability to tackle health issues – with innovation a notable driver. 59% of people in donor countries and 87% of people in the Global South feel more optimistic about the world’s ability to tackle health issues because of new technological innovation.

Focus group findings underlined this sense of ‘techno-optimism’ on health issues, with innovation frequently cited – across countries – as a reason for greater belief in the world’s ability to address health issues.

A range of issues tested increase optimism in the world’s ability to tackle health issues – with innovation a notable driver

Climate change is seen as a barrier, particularly in donor countries.
Make more optimistic/pessimistic about the world’s ability to tackle health issues

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