National Survey Results on Public Knowledge/Opinions and OB/GYN Practice/Attitudes on Emergency Contraceptives (“Morning-After Pills”) – Toplines/Survey
Kaiser Family Foundation Survey on Public Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Contraception and Unplanned Pregnancy:
Emergency Contraceptive Pills
— Questionnaire and Top Lines —
The Kaiser Family Foundation Survey on Public Knowledge and Attitudes on Contraception and Unplanned Pregnancy was a random-sample, telephone survey of adults nationwide. The national sample consisted of 2,002 adults (1002 men and 1000 women), 18 years and older, and was conducted between October 12 and November 13, 1994. Responses for a sub-set of the national population — American women most likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy, defined as those who are sexually active, fertile (and whose partners are fertile), and not pregnant or trying to get pregnant (270 out of the 1000 women surveyed) — are also referenced below. The margin of error in the national sample is plus or minus 2 percent. The margin of error among the sub-set of women at-risk is plus or minus 6 percent.
Q1. 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?
National Women at Risk Yes, there is something 36% 32% No, there is not anything 47% 64% Too late to prevent pregnancy (vol.) 1% * Not sure 17% 4%
Q2. Have you ever heard of morning-after pills, also called emergency contraceptive pills, or not?
National Women at Risk Yes, have heard of it 54% (Ask Q3) 60% No, have not heard of it 45% (Skip to Q5) 40% Not sure * *
Q3. 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?
National Women at Risk Immediately 10% 12% Within 12 hours 31% 30% Within 24 hours 28% 30% Within 72 hours 9% 12% Within one week 5% 5% Not sure 16% 11%
Q4. (Ask Females: Have you/ Ask Males: Has your current or most recent partner) ever used morning-after pills, or not?
National Women at Risk Yes, have taken 1% 1% No, have not taken 98% 99% Not sure 1% *
Q5. Ask Everyone: (Read intro if never heard of morning-after pill if Q.J2; 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 of pregnancy 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?
National Women at Risk Very likely 23% 22% Somewhat likely 20% 25% Not at all likely 47% 52% Not applicable (vol) 7% * Not sure 3% 1%
Q6. Do you think morning-after pills should be widely available, like condoms or tightly controlled like drugs that require a prescription from you doctor?
National Women at Risk Widely available 37% 31% Tightly controlled 58% 66% Not sure 5% 3%
Q7. Would a method of birth control that is taken soon after intercourse, such as morning-after pills, pose ethical concerns for you, or not?
National Women at Risk Yes, would pose concerns 36% 47% No, would not 61% 50% Not sure 3% 2%
Now I’d like to ask you a few questions about your discussions with health care professionals. (If Necessary: If any question is not applicable to you, please say so, and we’ll move past it.)
Q8. In the past two years, have you discussed birth control such as the use of condoms or birth control pills with your doctor or another health professional, or not?
National Women at Risk Yes, discussed 21% (Skip to Q10) 73% No, did not discuss 71% (Ask Q9) 26% Not applicable (vol.) 9% (Skip to Q11) 1% Not sure * *
Q9. Have you ever discussed birth control with a doctor or another health professional, or not?
National Women at Risk Yes, discussed 38% (Ask Q10) 74% No, never discussed 61% (Skip to Q11) 26% Not applic (vol.) 1% (Skip to Q11) * Not sure * *
Q10. Has a doctor ever been the one to raise the subject of birth control, or not?
National Women at Risk Yes, doctor raised subject 32% 45% Doctor did not 67% 54% Not sure 1% 1%
Q11. People can get information about birth control from a variety of sources. What sources would you say that you most typically rely on for information about birth control? What else? (Do not read list — Multiple Record)
National Women at Risk a. Your family 9% N/A b. Health care professionals 63% c. Your friends or peers 12% d. Health and sex education courses in school 8% e. Television 11% f. Magazines 20% g. Your spouse or partner 2% Not sure 13% Other 3%
94-1427B-03d
Survey on OB/GYN Practice/Attitudes on Emergency Contraceptives:
Press Release Survey Policy Brief