Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2006
Most Americans Back Easy Access To Birth Control, Survey Finds
Author: BECKEY BRIGHT
The majority of U.S. adults believe people should have more access to information about birth-control options, and they don't think access to birth control should be limited by a person's ability to pay for it, a Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive health-care poll shows.
Of 2,689 adults polled in an online survey, 89% said they favor more access to information and 81% agreed that providing access to birth control is a good way to prevent abortions. Nearly three-quarters of those polled said they agree with the statement that access to birth control shouldn't be limited by someone's ability to pay for it, compared with 19% who said they disagree.
Support for access to contraceptives by teenagers is more divided; a 46% to 41% plurality said teens should be allowed access to contraception without their parents' knowledge. Two-third of those polled agreed that abstinence is the best option for protecting teens from unwanted pregnancies, compared with 25% who disagreed.
Fifty-eight percent believe the morning after pill should be easily available in all pharmacies, compared with 26% who disagree.