Survey provides insight into what drives trust in science and vaccines

FROM Wellcome Global Monitor 2018

Key findings

• 73% of people worldwide would trust a doctor or nurse more than any other source of health advice, including family, friends, religious leaders or famous people.
• Across the world, people with the lowest household income have less confidence in hospitals and healthcare systems.

• Overall, 72% of people globally trust scientists.
• Over half (57%) of the world’s population don’t think they know much – if anything – about science.

• Worldwide, 79% of people agree that vaccines are safe and 84% agree that they are effective.
• Bangladesh and Rwanda have the strongest confidence in vaccines – with almost all people in both countries agreeing that vaccines are safe, effective and that it is important for children to be vaccinated.

• Men are more likely to claim greater knowledge of science than women. This gender gap exists even when men and women report equal levels of science attainment.
• Globally, 49% of men worldwide say they know ‘some’ or ‘a lot’ about science, compared with 38% of women.