Six In Ten (60%) Say "HIV/AIDS Is A Worldwide Epidemic Best Described As An International Emergency"

Four In Ten (40%) Say The Government's Foreign Spending On HIV/AIDS Isn't Enough Canadians See Various Key Causes For HIV/AIDS

25 March 2004

Toronto, ON - According to a new survey conducted by Ipsos-Reid on behalf of World Vision Canada, six in ten Canadians (60%) say "HIV/AIDS is a worldwide epidemic best described as an international emergency," and nearly nine in ten (88%) believe Africa has been hit the hardest.

While 40% of the Canadian adult population, or 9,600,000 adults*, think the Canadian government's foreign spending on HIV/AIDS is "about the right amount to spend," the same proportion (40%) believes it's "too little." Just 7% think the government is spending "too much" (12% "don't know").

Canadians see various key causes for HIV/AIDS. Eight in ten Canadians (82%) agree that "lack of education is a key cause in the spread of HIV/AIDS," six in ten (59%) agree that "poverty is a key cause to the spread of HIV/AIDS," and nearly half (46%) agree that "lack of political will in the international community is a key cause of HIV/AIDS."

Men are considered the most vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS, with 39% of Canadians saying so. Following men are young girls (20%), women (19%), and young boys (14%). The remaining 8% of Canadians don't know who is the most vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/World Vision poll conducted between February 17th and February 19th, 2004. The telephone survey is based on a randomly selected sample of 1059 adult Canadians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 2001 Census data. *40% of 24 million adults is 9,600,000.

Six in ten Canadians (60%) say "HIV/AIDS is a worldwide epidemic best described as an international emergency," while half as many (32%) say "HIV/AIDS is a serious problem, but to describe it as an epidemic is an exaggeration." One in twenty (4%) are "unaware of the impact of HIV/AIDS" and 2% say "HIV/AIDS is a serious problem but does not concern Canadians."

Residents of Atlantic Canada (71%), British Columbia (68%), and Ontario (65%) are more likely than residents of Alberta (50%), Quebec (52%), and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (56%) to think "HIV/AIDS is a worldwide epidemic best described as an international emergency."
Canadians with a university degree (68%) are more likely than those without (57%) to think "HIV/AIDS is a worldwide epidemic best described as an international emergency."

Nearly nine in ten (88%) believe Africa has been hit the hardest with HIV/AIDS. Less common responses were North America (4%), Asia (3%), Latin America/Caribbean (1%), and Western Europe (1%). The remaining 3% "don't know."

Canadians 35 and older (90%) are more likely than those who are younger (83%) to think Africa has been hit the hardest. 183
Canadians with a university degree (96%) are more likely than those without (85%) to think Africa has been hit the hardest.

While 40% of Canadians think the Canadian government's foreign spending on HIV/AIDS is "about the right amount to spend," the same proportion (40%) believes it's "too little." Just 7% think the government is spending "too much" (12% "don't know").

Residents of Atlantic Canada (56%) are significantly more likely than residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (36%), Alberta (39%), Ontario (39%), Quebec (40%), and British Columbia (41%) to think the Canadian government's foreign spending on HIV/AIDS is "too little."
Women (44%) are more likely than men (36%) to think the Canadian government's foreign spending on HIV/AIDS is "too little."

Eight in ten Canadians (82%) agree that "lack of education is a key cause in the spread of HIV/AIDS," while 17% disagree.

Residents of Atlantic Canada (89%) and British Columbia (89%) are most likely to agree with the statement, followed by residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (86%), Ontario (83%), Alberta (77%), and Quebec (76%).
Canadians with at least some postsecondary education (88%) are more likely than those without (71%) to agree with the statement.

Six in ten (59%) agree that "poverty is a key cause to the spread of HIV/AIDS," while four in ten (41%) disagree.

Residents of Alberta (64%) are most likely to agree with the statement, followed by residents of Quebec (63%), Atlantic Canada (59%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (58%), Ontario (57%), and British Columbia (52%).
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Canadians with an annual household income of $30,000 or greater (62%) are more likely than those with less (52%) to agree with the statement.

Nearly half (46%) agree that "lack of political will in the international community is a key cause of HIV/AIDS," while 51% disagree.

Residents of Quebec (54%) are most likely to agree with the statement, followed by residents of Atlantic Canada (49%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (47%), Alberta (45%), Ontario (43%), and British Columbia (41%).
The propensity to agree with the statement increases with age (42% 18-34; 46% 35-54; 52% 55+).
Canadians with a university degree (53%) are more likely than those without (43%) to agree with the statement.

Men (45%) are more likely than women (34%) to think than men are most vulnerable.

Please open the attached PDF to view the factum and detailed tables.

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For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900

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