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Show Poll Indicates Planned Parenthood Services Needed Hon," Rosenblatt said. "They feel that we provide accurate information and vital services to both teenagers teen-agers and adults." He said he was especially pleased about people's attitudes atti-tudes toward family planning services being provided in Utah. He referred to a survey conducted in 1980 by i Dan Jones and Associates for the Deseret News. "Both the Bardsley and Haslacher and the Deseret News polls show that the same majority, fifty-four percent of the 'population, favor Planned Parenthood being in their communities, he said. He continued, "In contrast to the Deseret News poll, however, our poll results show that the majority of people support public funding fund-ing for Planned Parenthood." Parent-hood." The Deseret News reported in 1980 that fifty-four fifty-four percent of Utabns were opposed to giving government govern-ment funds to Planned Parenthood. "This more recent poll 1 Most Utahns want family planning services to be provided in their communities communi-ties and most Utahns believe public funds should be used to provide those services, according to an independent public opinion survey recently recent-ly commissioned by Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. Stephen Rosenblatt, president presi-dent of the Association's Board of Trustees said the poll also revealed that nine out of ten Utahns recognize the name "Planned Parenthood," Parent-hood," and seventy three percent of the entire state population has an accurate perception of the agency's activities and functions. "Contrary to public perception," percep-tion," Rosenblatt said, "among those Utahns who are aware of Planned Parenthood Parent-hood and know what we do, the majority (54 percent) approve of our work. Only a minority of the people who know us, thirty percent, say they are opposed to us." The survey, conducted by the national firm Bardsley and Haslacher, was published publish-ed in June 1982. It consisted of 627 telephone interviews with household members -representing a cross section of residents in Cache, Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Juab, Sevier, Iron, Carbon, and Duchesne counties. The sampling variability range was between 1.7 and 4.0 percent for the entire population. popula-tion. Rosenblatt said the survey was paid for by private funds. "This survey revealed that most Utahns value planned Parenthood," Rosenblatt said. "They especially believe our sex education programs are necessary." More than fifty percent of the people spontaneously expressing their reasons for supporting the agency said, that this state needs Planned Parenthood because the a-gency a-gency presents and protects the viewpoints of the populace popu-lace and Utahns need the kind of education that Planned Parenthood provides. pro-vides. People also praised Planned Parenthood for preventing unwanted pregnancies. "The poll results showed that Utahns think there are too many unwed mothers, and that Planned Parenthood helps to prevent his problem," pro-blem," Rosenblatt said. Most Utahns believe Planned Plan-ned Parenthood fills a crucial role for those in the community who need advice, counseling and education. "People think of Planned Parenthood as a profession-,!, profession-,!, al. responsible organia- '.' ' Yi rfYtV reveals that the attitude has changed," Rosenblatt said, "Now exactly fifty-four percent per-cent of the state's population support the use of public funds for Planned Parenthood; Parent-hood; only 39 percent are opposed." The survey also polled people's attitudes toward family planning services in general. "Sixty-six percent of the population approves of family planning services being provided in their community," . Rosenblatt said. "Only 28 percent say they disapprove of these services." The survey included inclu-ded questions about people's 4 attitudes toward abortion and teenage pregnancy. "Public attitudes toward abortion are highly developed," devel-oped," Rosenblatt said. "Only one percent of the population is undecided on this issue. In Utah, seventy percent of the population believes that abortion should be legal under some circumstances. circum-stances. Only a small minority, eleven percent believe that abortion should be banned under all circumstances; circum-stances; nine percent believe abortion should be available without any restrictions." He said that when they were asked whether they would favor or oppose a law in Utah making abortions illegal, fifty-four percent said they would oppose such a state law; six percent were undecided. Regarding teenage pregnancy, preg-nancy, three-fourths of all those polled believe the teenage pregnancy problem is "very serious," the survey shows, and another twenty-three twenty-three percent believe it is "somewhat serious." Only one percent said the problem was "not too serious." "Most people said they thought the solution to the problem of teenage pregnancy pregnan-cy was to provide more sex education in the schools and at home," Rosenblatt said. Regarding sex education, Rosenblatt said this survey was consistent with other recent Utah surveys. "Two out of every three adults in Utah approve of teaching sex education to children between bet-ween ages of thirteen and fifteen," he said. "The degree to which the public supports sex education depends de-pends on the topic, however, ranging from eighty-eight percent who approve of teaching dating and relationships relation-ships to fifty-five percent who approve of discussing abortion. "This survey confirmed our feelings that Planned parenthood parent-hood is a vital rsource in this " 'state.'. . ; , |
