Survey on Public Knowledge and Attitudes on Contraception and Unplanned Pregnancy in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands
G. Emergency Contraceptive Pills, or Morning-After Pills
G1. If a woman has just had sex and thinks she might become pregnant, is there anything that she could do in the next few days to prevent pregnancy, or not?
Asked only in the U.S. USA
18+ Yes, there is something 36% No, there is not anything 47% Too late to prevent pregnancy (Vol.) 1% Not sure/Refused 17%
G2. Have you ever heard of morning-after pills, also called emergency contraceptive pills, or not?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Yes, have heard of it 54% 53% 71% 96% No, have not heard of it 45% 47% 28% 4% Not sure/Refused * 1% * *
G3. How soon after sexual intercourse do morning-after pills have to be taken — immediately, within 12 hours, within 24 hours, within 72 hours, or within one week?
Based on those who have heard of emergency contraceptive pills.
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Immediately 10% 10% 9% 4% Within 12 hours 31% 28% 30% 34% Within 24 hours 28% 32% 36% 49% Within 72 hours 9% 12% 11% 6% Within one week 5% 6% * * Not sure/Refused 16% 12% 13% 6%
G4. (Ask Females: Have you/ Ask Males: Has your current or most recent partner) ever usedmorning-after pills, or not?
Based on those who have heard of emergency contraceptive pills.
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Yes, have taken 1% 2% 9% 11% No, have not taken 98% 98% 86% 82% Not sure/Refused 1% 1% 5% 7%
G5. Morning-after pills are a particular kind of birth control pills that are taken after sexual intercourse. If several of the pills are taken at the same time within 72 hours of sex, they may reduce the chance ofpregnancy by up to 75%.
From what you know about morning-after pills, would you say (you/your current or recent partner) would be very likely, somewhat likely, or not at all likely to take them if you had unprotected sex and wanted to prevent pregnancy?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Very likely 23% 21% 19% 33% Somewhat likely 20% 24% 23% 17% Not at all likely 47% 52% 47% 31% Not applic. (Vol.) 7% 3% 7% 11% Not sure/Refused 3% 1% 5% 9%
G6. Do you think morning-after pills should be widely available, like condoms or tightly controlled like drugs that require a prescription from you doctor?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Widely available 37% 33% 27% 26% Tightly controlled 58% 64% 64% 71% Not sure/Refused 5% 3% 9% 3%
G7. Would a method of birth control that is taken soon after intercourse, such as morning-after pills, pose ethical concerns for you, or not?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Yes, would pose concerns 36% 43% 31% 21% No, would not 61% 55% 65% 74% Not sure/Refused 3% 2% 5% 4%
H. Abortion
H1. Of every 100 pregnancies in the United States, how many do you feel end in abortion?
Asked only in the U.S.
USA
18+ Mean: 35 pregnancies Not sure/Refused 5%
H2. Do you feel that the number of abortions per every 100 women in the United States is increasing, decreasing, or staying about the same each year?
Asked only in the U.S. USA
18+ Increasing 49% Decreasing 8% Staying about the same 41% Not sure/Refused 2%
H3. Of every 100 abortions that occur in the United States, how many do you feel occur among (Read each item — Do not rotate)?
Asked only in the U.S.
USA
18+ Mean Not sure/
Refused a. Teenagers 49 pregnancies 4% b. Lower income women 46 4% c. Minority women 42 6%
H4. Of all women between the ages of 12 and 50, what percentage do you feel has had an abortion?
Asked only in the U.S. USA
18+ Mean: 31% Not sure/Refused 7%
H5. Is the percentage of women in the United States who have had an abortion higher, lower, or about the same as the percentage of women who have had an abortion in other developed countries like Canada, Great Britain or Germany?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Higher in the U.S. 49% 57% 10% 16% Lower in the U.S. 16% 14% 43% 67% About the same 28% 24% 32% 7% Not sure/Refused 6% 5% 15% 10%
I. Factuals
Now, I have just a few factual questions for the purpose of classification.
I1. Are you single, married, living as a couple with someone, widowed, separated, or divorced?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 Single 19% 29% 33% 24% Married 56% 53% 49% 55% Living as a couple 6% 9% 13% 17% Widowed 1% 1% 1% * Separated 2% 2% 2% * Divorced 7% 3% 3% 3% Not sure/Refused * * * *
I2. Are you covered by any form of health insurance including Medicaid or Medicare, or not?
Asked only in the U.S.
USA
18+ Yes 84% No 16% Not sure/Refused *
I3. What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received? (Probe: If respondent says just “High School:” What was the highest grade youcompleted? If 12th Grade, code “Graduate.” If 11th Grade or less, code “Less Than.”)
The U.S. and Canada: USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 Less than high school (grades 1-11, grade 12 but no diploma) 12% 7% 16% High school graduate or equivalent (e.g., GED) 42% 44% 26% Some college but no degree 25% 28% 20% College graduate 14% 15% 24% Postgraduate 6% 6% 15% Not sure/Refused * * 8%
The Netherlands:
NETH
18-44 Primary school 3% Lower technical and vocational education 16% Lower secondary school 14% Middle technical and vocational education 29% Higher secondary school 10% Higher technical and vocational education 21% University 7% Not sure/Refused *
I4. Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin or descent, or not?
Asked only in the U.S.
USA
18+ USA
18-44 Yes 8% 10% No 90% 88% Not sure/Refused 2% 1%
I5. Do you consider yourself white, (Rotate: Black or African-American), Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American or some other race?
Asked only in the U.S.
USA
18+ USA
18-44 White 80% 77% Black or African-American 12% 13% Asian or Pacific Islander 1% 2% Native American 2% 2% Other race 4% 5% Not sure/Refused 1% 1%
I6. Which of the following income categories best describes your total 1993 household income? Was it (read list)?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 $7,500 or less 9% 7% 4% 7% $7,501 to $15,000 11% 10% 6% 8% $15,001 to $25,000 17% 18% 14% 27% $25,001 to $35,000 17% 17% 15% 21% $35,001 to $50,000 19% 21% 18% 7% $50,001 to $75,000 12% 13% 21% 4% $75,001 to $100,000 5% 5% 7% * $100,001 to $125,000 2% 2% 3% * Over $125,000 2% 3% 3% * Not sure/Refused 6% 4% 9% 25%
I7. Did you vote in the 1992 presidential election, when about half of the American public voted, or not?
Asked only in the U.S.
USA
18+ Yes 71% No 29% Not sure/Refused *
I7a. Did you vote for George Bush, Bill Clinton, or Ross Perot?
Based on those who voted in the 1992 presidential election. Asked only in the U.S.
USA
18+ George Bush 38% Bill Clinton 41% Ross Perot 14% Other 1% Not sure/Refused 5%
I8. How frequently do you attend religious services? Would you say at least once a week, at least once a month, a few times a year, or never?
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 At least once a week 37% 30% 18% 10% At least once a month 16% 18% 14% 10% A few times a year 28% 33% 38% 24% Never 18% 19% 30% 55% Not sure/Refused 1% * 1% 1%
I9. Language interview was conducted in.
USA
18+ USA
18-44 CAN
18-44 NETH
18-44 English 99% 98% 71% * Spanish 1% 2% * * French * * 29% * Dutch * * * 100%
Surveys on Public Knowledge and Attitudes on Contraception and Unplanned Pregnancy:
Survey Part One Part Two Part Three