Nearly one out of three Americans admit they know little or nothing about AIDS, although it is one of the deadliest epidemics in recorded history, according to a survey released Thursday.
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(Photo: AP Images / Ron Edmonds)A large AIDS ribbon hangs from the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, in honor of World AIDS Day, which is officially marked around the world on Dec. 1.
In the United States, people living in the West were most likely to admit lack of knowledge on the AIDS issue (33 percent), followed by the Northeast at 32 percent, the South at 30 percent, and the Midwest at 26 percent, the Ipsos-conducted survey found.
Overall, 30 percent of American respondents said they know little or nothing at all about the AIDS issue.
“This survey reconfirms what all of us on the front lines of the AIDS battle know – leaders must put a face on the pandemic because, for people to take action AIDS must affect them in a personal way,” said Richard E. Stearns, president of World Vision, U.S., in a statement.
The survey found that 49 percent of Americans have no personal connection with AIDS – that is, they do not know someone who died of AIDS, have a close friend or family member who is HIV-positive, or know someone who has lost a family member or friend to AIDS.
But lack of personal connection did not seem to affect Americans’ concerned for the AIDS situation. Americans are more concerned with the AIDS pandemic than they are with climate changed (74 percent versus 71 percent, respectively), according to the survey.
Moreover, half of Americans surveyed said they are willing to pay more taxes to help fund prevention, treatment, research, and care for AIDS patients.
Many Americans (74 percent) also believe individuals “should play my part, however small” to help those affected by AIDS, and 69 percent of respondents indicated they would be willing to donate to help children impacted by AIDS.
However, the Iraq war (85 percent), poverty and hunger (85 percent), as well as the global economy (79 percent) proved to be greater concerns for Americans than the AIDS pandemic and climate change.
More than half (52 percent) of respondents believe in widespread distribution of condoms as a prevention method of AIDS, while 48 percent support programs to discourage sexual promiscuity. And 46 percent support the provision of clean needles for IV drug users.
The survey was conducted by the global polling and market research firm Ipsos Public Affairs on over 3,000 participants in seven wealthy nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – all members of the G-8. Russia, the eighth member, was not surveyed because of financial consideration.
“While some of these survey results present daunting challenges, we can be encouraged with the finding that the more people know about AIDS, the more compassionate they are toward those directly affected by it,” Stearns noted.
“AIDS is the greatest humanitarian disaster of our time, maybe of all time, and children represent our greatest hope in turning the tide against this deadly disease,” said the WV head. “Orphans and vulnerable children are the ‘echo boom’ of the pandemic, and much more must be done to protect them from exploitation and provide opportunities for the future.
World Vision held a global vigil Nov. 29-30 to raise awareness on the estimated 6,000 children every day who lose a parent to AIDS. The vigil began in Toronto and continued westward in more than 17 cities around the world during 24 hours and ended 9 a.m. EST on Nov. 30 in New York City.
“To the leaders of the seven governments whose citizens were surveyed, to the leaders of the U.N. and World Bank, to my NGO colleagues, when history judges us, we all will be asked, ‘What did you do to help them and stop the calamity of AIDS?’” Stearns asked.
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Comments
ggmusic: So your equating diabetes with filthy, immoral sodomy? People do not thumb their noses at what is right and contract diabetes from it.
ggmusic -
Actually what's really being discussed here, at least by some of us, is the validity of claiming that 1 out of 3 Americans know little or nothing about AIDS, which I believe can't possibly be. Of course as Christians we are to look after those sick with this and all diseases.
Now speaking for the fat people.... I find it really insulting and very ill informed to claim we are either lazy or responsible for being fat. In my experience fat people are no more or less lazy than thin people. We are loving caring Christians who work just as hard as our skinny brothers and sisters at serving the Lord, while doing our jobs and taking care of our families. Many "overweight" people spend their lives dieting and making themselves miserable to try to please our skinny-happy culture, only to find out they are never going to be able to be skinny enough, and as soon as they start not starving themselves they will gain the weight back on. They will still be looked down on by carnal society which knows no better than to judge a person by what they look like, and unfortunately by those in the church who haven't managed to learn yet that we are to look on the heart and not care if someone is fat or thin, ugly or pretty, tall or short, we are to love all.
ggmusic - I don't recall anyone saying we aren't called to be involved, rather simply discussing the why's, wherefor's and how's of the issue.
A moral lifestyle prevents it, along with a bevy of other filthy deseases. Unlike cancer and others, this is completely avoidable if you live a morality based Christian life. And before the homosexual crowd says anything---yes there are the few very unfortunate who get this by accident such as in a transfusion of tainted blood. I pray for those people who certainly do not deserve this because of their actions.
So fat, lazy people who say have diabetes, high blood pressure and a bevy of other health problems shouldn't be helped either because they brought it on themselves? So only help people who have never sinned? That is not my Christian response - mine is have some compassion for suffering people.
RBB - They start this in lst grade? Hard to envision little ones even beginning to understand any connection. If I had kids in school today, I think I would live on beans in order to get them into a private christian school. "Train up the child in the way he should go...." Either the parents do it, or the world will!
I agree RBB, AIDS information has been promulgated generously in our schools at least since the mid-80's, but this only catches the forty and under segment. I can see how a 40+ citizen might feel that their exposure does not qualify as knowing "much" about AIDS. I guess it really boils down to the statistical method employed by Ipsos Public Affairs and how "loaded" the actual questions were.
As for funding for AIDS research and prevention...we could shake billions of dollars loose with a bureaucratic tune-up. Just off the cuff, I can think of a dozen agencies and programs that could be cut or reduced to provide both money AND a positive effect on our country.
GMG - I don't know about every school, but in my son's case (my youngest who is now 22) there was more extensive teaching on AIDS then I wanted, or was comfortable with. As far as I'm concerned forcing kids to face these kinds of adult issues... sex, stds, homosexuality, drug addiction, etc..at such an early age (1st to 3rd grades) forces them to grow up many years before they should, and ruins their childhood.
It is a shame that a disease that is totally preventable by living a moral lifestyle has to cost us so much in taxes for the idiotic research to find a 'cure.' Unfortunately, the orphans of AIDS do need our help and the world (mass media, govt schools, Progressives, UN, etc) needs to hear our voices against condoning these deadly and expensive vices.
A moral lifestyle prevents it, along with a bevy of other filthy deseases. Unlike cancer and others, this is completely avoidable if you live a morality based Christian life. And before the homosexual crowd says anything---yes there are the few very unfortunate who get this by accident such as in a transfusion of tainted blood. I pray for those people who certainly do not deserve this because of their actions.
It is kind of hard to believe, isn't it? I wonder to what extent it is taught in school....if it is only listed as an STD along with all the others, and they are taught something like "just wear a condom", then something like that might account for some of it.
I find these numbers very hard to believe since AIDS is taught in school as young as grammar school, the media talks about it on a constant basis, and it seems to be the illness that many celebrities for years have made their social cause of main concern. What level of knowledge are they talking about.
I'd like to see what their numbers are for things like cancer, heart disease, etc and compare what people say about that.