Public Health Alarm: Global Trust in Science Plunges 72%

Economic crises, weak healthcare infrastructure, and the unequal distribution of research benefits have led to a noticeable decline in public trust in science across many regions of the world. Safir Arjan

Economic crises, weak medical infrastructure and unequal distribution of research achievements have caused a significant decline in public trust in science in many parts of the world.

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The findings of a new study show that the level of public trust in science globally has decreased to a lower figure than before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the third wave of the "Wellcome Global Monitoring" research, which is the most extensive international assessment of people's views and feelings towards science, more than 140,000 people in 140 countries were surveyed.

According to the statistics of this report, in 2018, the proportion of people who expressed at least some trust in science was equal to 77%; This figure has increased to 80% in 2020, but has fallen to 72% in 2025. The data also found that people who experience poorer financial conditions or have less confidence in their country's health system are much less likely to trust science.

According to the assessment, only 21 percent of respondents in sub-Saharan Africa said they trust science "very much," compared to 54 percent in Western Europe. Experts warn that these low levels of trust can severely affect how health programs operate.

Jan-Arne Röttingen, CEO of the Wellcome Foundation, has announced in this regard:

"Public trust determines whether scientific advances can make a tangible and meaningful change in people's lives or not. In a situation where the world is facing a wide range of challenges from infectious diseases to climate change and mental health issues, science has the ability to create a healthier future, but this will only be possible if people believe that science is a force for good and the benefit of all."

Despite the temporary growth of trust in science during the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia and West Asia, a steady decline has been recorded throughout the three periods of this survey. In Central Asia, this trend is reflected in the softening of views, and people have moved from trusting "very much" to trusting "somewhat"; However, in sub-Saharan Africa and West Asia, public attitudes have become more stubborn, and the proportion of those who said they have "not a lot of trust" or "not at all" in science has increased.

In sub-Saharan Africa, despite differences between countries, overall only 28 percent of respondents believed that science benefited "most people" in their country. Dr. "Aniseh Ahmed", program manager of the non-governmental health organization "Amref Health Africa", says about this:

"People across Africa have gone through great shocks and crises in recent years; including rising costs of living and economic insecurity, lasting consequences of covid-19, increasing pressure on healthcare systems, frequent outbreaks of diseases such as monkey pox, marburg virus and ebola, along with conflicts, displacement and the growing effects of climate change on public health. If families are in financial distress, clinics face shortages of drugs and medical staff, or communities feel left out of the decision-making process, trust will suffer."

Pointing out that trust is an important feature to advance health programs, he goes on to say:

“Local communities may only touch science through hands-on experiences such as vaccination campaigns, mobile maternal health clinics, or door-to-door visits. If people do not trust the institutions that provide these services or feel that these programs do not reflect the realities and priorities of their lives, it will be much more difficult to implement them."

This report was published in a situation where health systems in many African countries are facing heavy challenges due to the reduction of financial assistance from major traditional donors, including the United States and the United Kingdom. According to Ahmad, the low level of trust has also fueled the spread of rumors and misinformation, especially on social media.

Dr. Olin Gitau, the chief scientific director of the Science for Africa Foundation and a member of the steering committee of this report, explained that the lack of facilities for laboratory diagnostic tests in the early stages of the disease outbreak in the Congo was the main factor behind the formation of this distrust: "All the solutions that we said would be effective were not readily available; "Because of that, when people knew what to do, they pushed back because they felt the processes were taking too long."

My professional career in the world of technology goes back almost 10 years; The path that started with hardware, continued with software, and now continues as a technology reporter in Sefir Arjan. I am Javad and more than three decades have passed and in addition to the world of technology, I love movies and cinema, classic rock music and Real Madrid.