New Poll Shows Widespread Support for Birth Control Access in the U.S.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 09, 2015 -- The majority of adults in the United States—Republicans and Democrats alike—support policies that make it easier for teens and those age 18 and older to get the full range of birth control methods, according to new public opinion survey data released by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The survey found that:
•86% of adults (including 91% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans) support policies that make it easier for those 18 and older to get the full range of birth control methods.
•71% (including 86% of Democrats and 53% of Republicans) support policies that make it easier for teens to get the full range of birth control methods.
•78% (including 87% of Democrats and 66% of Republicans) believe more people would use birth control if they had easier access to it.
The new data are being released in conjunction with the third annual Thanks, Birth Control Day taking place on November 10, 2015. The day celebrates the many benefits of birth control to women, men, children, and society, including fewer unplanned pregnancies and more educational and economic opportunities.
Everyone is invited to join in on celebrating the tremendous impact that birth control has and can have by using their Twitter, Facebook, and other social media channels to say what birth control makes possible for them and for society using the hashtag #ThxBirthControl. For more information about #ThxBirthControl please visit, http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org.
Although birth control remains a topic of political controversy, the new data shows that there is overwhelming support for birth control among the general public and all racial/ethnic groups and recognition of the essential role of birth control in women’s health care:
•About eight in 10 adults think more people would use birth control if they knew more about its many benefits, knew more about the many methods of birth control available, and were comfortable talking openly about birth control.
•78% of adults overall (including 87% of Democrats, 76% of Republicans, 81% of white non-Hispanics, 77% of Hispanics, and 73% of black non-Hispanics) agree that birth control is a basic part of women’s health care.
•76% of adults overall (including 84% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans, 82% of black non-Hispanics, 79% of Hispanics, and 77% of white non-Hispanics) believe policymakers who are opposed to abortion should be strong supporters of birth control.
•82% of black non-Hispanics, 75% of Hispanics, and 68% of white non-Hispanics support polices that make it easier for teens to get the full range of birth control methods.
•91% of black non-Hispanics, 87% of Hispanics, and 86% of white non-Hispanics support policies that make it easier for those age 18 and up to get the full range of birth control methods.
“Access to birth control has been a game changer for women and families. It has contributed greatly to reduce rates of teen and unplanned pregnancies that we know will ultimately lead to better educational and economic opportunities for women, healthier kids and families, and reduced public costs,” said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of The National Campaign.
About #ThxBirthControl. Read more about Thanks, Birth Control.
About the survey: The public opinion data noted here are drawn from a national telephone survey conducted for The National Campaign by SSRS, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted in October 2015 among a nationally representative sample of 1,024 adults age 18 and older. The margin of error for this survey is +/-3.1% at the 95% confidence level.
About The National Campaign: The National Campaign is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families by preventing teen and unplanned pregnancy. Please visit http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org to find out more.
Bill Albert, The National Campaign, +1 (202) 478-8510, [email protected]
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