Public Health a Major Priority in African Nations

Improving Hospitals, Dealing with HIV/AIDS are Top Issues

Survey Methods

Pew Research Center
Spring 2013 Survey

Results for the surveys are based face-to-face interviews conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Survey results are based on national samples. For further details on sample designs, see below.

The descriptions below show the margin of sampling error based on all interviews conducted in that country. For results based on the full sample in a given country, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus the margin of error. In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

Country:	Ghana
Sample design:	Multi-stage cluster sample stratified by region and settlement size
Mode:	Face-to-face adults 18 plus
Languages:	Akan (Twi), English, Dagbani, Ewe
Fieldwork dates:	March 20 – April 3, 2013
Sample size:	799
Margin of Error:	+/-4.7 percentage points
Representative:	Adult population

Country:	Kenya
Sample design:	Multi-stage cluster sample stratified by province and settlement size
Mode:	Face-to-face adults 18 plus
Languages:	Kiswahili, English
Fieldwork dates:	March 13 – March 30, 2013
Sample size:	798
Margin of Error:	+/-4.3 percentage points
Representative:	Adult population

Country:	Nigeria
Sample design:	Multi-stage cluster sample stratified by region and urbanity
Mode:	Face-to-face adults 18 plus
Languages:	English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo
Fieldwork dates:	March 6 – April 4, 2013
Sample size:	1,031
Margin of Error:	+/-4.0 percentage points
Representative:	Adult population (excluding Borno, Yobe and some areas in Taraba, or about 5% of the population)

Country:	Senegal
Sample design:	Multi-stage cluster sample stratified by region and urbanity
Mode:	Face-to-face adults 18 plus
Languages:	Wolof, French
Fieldwork dates:	March 6 – March 30, 2013
Sample size:	800
Margin of Error:	+/-4.1 percentage points
Representative:	Adult population

Country:	South Africa
Sample design:	Multi-stage cluster sample stratified by metropolitan area, province and urbanity
Mode:	Face-to-face adults 18 plus
Languages:	English, Zulu, Xhosa, South Sotho, Afrikaans
Fieldwork dates:	March 18 – April 12, 2013
Sample size:	815
Margin of Error:	+/-4.1 percentage points
Representative:	Adult population

Country:	Uganda
Sample design:	Multi-stage cluster sample stratified by region and urbanity
Mode:	Face-to-face adults 18 plus
Languages:	Luganda, English, Runyankole/Rukiga, Luo, Runyoro/Rutoro, Ateso, Lugbara
Fieldwork dates:	March 15 – March 29, 2013
Sample size:	800
Margin of Error:	+/-4.3 percentage points
Representative:	Adult population

h2>Survey Report h2>Survey Report Concerns about public health are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, and there is considerable support in the region for making public health challenges a top national priority. In particular, people want their governments to improve the quality of hospitals and other health care facilities and deal with the problem of HIV/AIDS. A Pew Research Center survey, conducted March 6, 2013 to April 12, 2013 in six African nations, also finds broad support for government efforts to address access to drinking water, access to prenatal care, hunger, infectious diseases, and child immunization.

Build and improve hospitals, prevent and treat HIV/AIDS

A median of 76% across six countries surveyed say building and improving hospitals and other health care facilities should be one of the most important priorities for their national government. The percentage of the public who holds this view ranges from 85% in Ghana to 64% in Nigeria. Similarly, a median of 76% believe preventing and treating HIV/AIDS should be one of government’s most important priorities, ranging from 81% in Ghana to 59% in Nigeria. A median of at least 65% also say the other issues included on the poll — ranging from access to drinking water to increased child immunization — should be among the most important priorities. In fact, majorities hold this view about all seven issues in all six nations. Overall, there has been little change in public health priorities in Uganda or Kenya since these questions were last asked in 2007, although in the latter nation the percentage of people saying HIV/AIDS should be one of the most important priorities for government has declined from 80% to 63%. Meanwhile, Ghanaians today are more likely to say that six of the seven tested health issues should be a central concern for government. For instance, 85% of Ghanaians say this about building and improving hospitals, compared with 62% in 2007.[1. For more on the 2007 findings, see A Global Look At Public Perceptions of Health Problems, Priorities, and Donors: The Kaiser/Pew Global Health Survey. The 2007 survey was conducted in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation. Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa were also surveyed in 2007, but those trends are not shown because the 2007 samples in those countries were less representative than the 2013 samples, which are nationally representative.]

In a follow up question, respondents were asked which of these challenges they believe should be the most important public health priority for their government. On this question, responses are somewhat diffuse within each nation, and differ by country. However, hospital and health care facility improvement is at or near the top of the list in several nations, including Uganda where roughly one-in-three (34%) consider this the number one public health concern. Many also say HIV/AIDS should be the top priority for government, especially in South Africa and Uganda, which have the highest HIV prevalence rates among the six countries surveyed.[2. 2012 estimates: 17.9% HIV prevalence rate in South Africa and 7.2% in Uganda. Data from AIDSinfo.org http://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/datatools/aidsinfo/] Meanwhile, fighting hunger and malnutrition is the highest priority in Senegal, and is tied for the top spot in Kenya.

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