One third of US women believe reproductive rights are under threat, poll says

Alexandra Szydlowska
WVoN co-editor

Almost one third (31 per cent) of US women believe that there is a wide scale effort to limit women’s reproductive health choices services, including contraception, family planning and abortion, according to a poll released today.

The study, conducted by the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, published its findings after months of hot debate over the future of Planned Parenthood, abortion and President Barack Obama’s policy on contraceptives in the run up to the US presidential elections.

The poll, which was conducted with 1,218 adults, found that 42 per cent of women took some action in the past six months in reaction to something they’d seen, heard or read about these issues.

This included attempting to influence a friend or family member’s opinion (23 per cent), donating money to a non-profit working on reproductive health issues (15 per cent), or contacting an elected official (14 per cent).

However, the survey also found that reproductive rights have not yet become the hot-button presidential campaign issue for women, who see the economy and jobs as far more important topics for President Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney.

About 60 per cent of those who participated in the poll want to hear the candidates talk about the economy and jobs, 23 per cent view healthcare as a top issue and five per cent who want to hear from Obama or Romney about abortion, women’s health or other women’s issues.

You can read the findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation here.