Global Health Policy

This poll finds most of the public believe the cutbacks at USAID will lead to increases in illness and death in low-income countries. Nearly half say it will reduce the U.S. budget. Most of the public also overestimates the share of the federal budget that is spent on foreign aid, and when informed it is about 1% of the federal budget, the share who want to reduce spending drops.

This survey about the U.S. role in global health finds.Americans’ top priorities for global health funding focus on meeting basic human needs such as improving access to clean water and food and helping children. Addressing the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is also a top priority. Some high profile issues such as malaria and reproductive health rank further down the list.. A large majority of the public overestimates the share of the U.S. federal budget spent on foreign aid.

This survey is the third in a series by the Foundation that aims to illuminate the American public’s views and knowledge of U.S. efforts to improve health for people in developing countries. The survey examines perceptions about foreign aid in general and assistance for health specifically, including the public’s priorities…