Results of survey: how healthy is your world?

Avian influenza top health issue of 2005, tobacco most neglected issue

The results are now in. Over 600 people from more than 20 countries took part in our online survey entitled "How healthy is your world?". You were asked two questions: what were the top health issues of 2005 and, what global health issues were the most neglected.

Click on the links below to read more about the results of the survey.

Top 10 health issues of 2005

1. Avian influenza
2. HIV/AIDS
3. Tobacco
4. Chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease
5. Environmental health issues
6. Poverty
7. Disasters/emergencies
8. Malaria
9. Malnutrition
10. Inequity in access to health care

Top 10 neglected health issues of 2005

1. Tobacco
2. HIV/AIDS
3. Environmental health issues
4. Chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease
5. Poverty
6. Avian influenza
7. Malaria
8. Violence
9. Malnutrition
10. Inequity in access to health care

It is striking that no matter where you are from, how your circumstances differ, you care about the same health issues. Respondents to our survey from China to Nigeria to the United States of America had almost identical concerns. It is also notable that the top issues and the neglected issues were also roughly the same - perhaps reflecting that all these issues are important, but you think some require more attention. Finally, the issues you care about are also issues the World Health Organization (WHO) has been tackling in 2005, and will continue to work on.