While three-in-four respondents want abortion to remain legal, only 16% personally endorse the current status quo.
People in the United States are divided on the idea of allowing abortion coverage in any health insurance plan that relies on federal subsidies, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
The online survey of a representative national sample of 1,002 American adults sought to review the opinion of respondents on a wide range of topics related to abortion.
Personal Feeling
When asked what their personal feeling about abortion is, only 16 per cent of respondents agree with the status-quo: allowing the procedure with the same restrictions that are currently in place.
Three-in-ten Americans (30%) would permit abortion only in cases of rape, incest and to save the woman’s life, while 13 per cent would only consent to the procedure to save the woman’s life.
One-in-five Americans (19%) think abortion should be permitted in all cases, and nine per cent would allow the procedure, but subject to greater restrictions than now.
Legality
While 14 per cent of Americans say abortion should be deemed illegal in all circumstances, 49 per cent say it should remain legal in certain cases, and 27 per cent say it should always be allowed under the law. While only about one-in-ten Democrats and Independents call for an outright ban on abortion, the proportion reaches 23 per cent among Republicans.
Funding
An amendment to the proposed health care reform bill would ban abortion coverage in any health insurance plan using federal subsidies. This issue has proven divisive, with 44 per cent of Americans supporting the proposed ban, and 42 per cent opposing it. Two-in-five Republicans (40%) “strongly agree” with the ban.
Information for Pregnant Women
A majority of respondents (55%) consider that pregnant women have wide access to information about alternatives to abortion such as adoption and counseling. But three-in-ten Americans (31%) disagree, saying that women lack enough information on these alternatives.
Women Under the Age of 18
About three quarters of Americans (74%) of U.S. respondents think women under the age of 18 should be required parental consent, or consent by their legal guardians, in order to access an abortion procedure.
Re-opening the Abortion Debate
However different the opinions of Americans are on the legality of abortion, half of respondents (49%) say there is no point in re-opening the debate on this subject, whereas 35 per cent believe a debate about abortion in the U.S. is long overdue. Republicans are evenly divided on this question, while a majority of Democrats believe that no debate on abortion is necessary at this point.
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+604 647 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
