0
December 15, 1993, Vol 270, No. 23 >
ARTICLE | December 15, 1993

The Public and the Controversy Over Abortion FREE

Robert J. Blendon, ScD; John M. Benson, MA; Karen Donelan, EdM
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to the Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (Dr Blendon).


JAMA. 1993;270(23):2871-2875. doi:10.1001/jama.1993.03510230113050
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References

THE ARRIVAL of a new presidential administration in Washington, DC, has been marked by vigorous debate about two major health policy issues—national health reform and abortion. While the national health reform debate will be centered on the passage of a single piece of legislation, the abortion controversy encompasses a number of distinct judicial, legislative, and administrative policy decisions. In each of these areas, the Clinton administration seeks to reverse the trend established in the Reagan-Bush years of increased restrictions on access to abortion and other reproductive services.

Within the American medical community and among the general public, few issues are as controversial as abortion. Concern has deepened recently as violent protests and personal attacks on physicians have escalated in the wake of Clinton's decision to remove the gag rule on abortion counseling in family planning centers, and as he and Congress take up several policy initiatives: passing a freedom of

REFERENCES

1 +
Henshaw SK, Martire G.  Abortion and the public opinion polls: morality and legality. Fam Plann Perspect . 1982;;14:53-60.
2 +
Scott J.  Conflicting beliefs about abortion: legal approval and moral doubts. Soc Psychol Q . 1989;;52:319-326.
3 +
Research and Forecasts/Hearst Corporation Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; October 20, 1986;.
4 +
Roe v Wade, 410 US 113 (1973).
5 +
Gallup Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; August 23, 1962;.
6 +
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 15, 1992;.
7 +
CBS News/New York Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; September 17, 1989;.
8 +
Associated Press Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 29, 1992;.
9 +
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; June 4, 1993;.
10 +
Los Angeles Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; June 28, 1991;.
11 +
Gallup Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; March 12, 1993;.
12 +
National Opinion Research Center Poll . Chicago, Ill: National Opinion Research Center; December 1, 1965;.
13 +
Davis JA, Smith TW. General Social Surveys, 1972-1993: Cumulative Codebook . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; 1993;.
14 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; October 1, 1993;.
15 +
Los Angeles Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; June 12, 1993;.
16 +
Princeton Survey Research Associates/Times Mirror Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; April 30, 1992;.
17 +
CBS News/New York Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 8, 1992;.
18 +
ABC News/Washington Post Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 1, 1992;.
19 +
Princeton Survey Research Associates/Newsweek Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; April 8, 1993;.
20 +
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; April 17, 1993;.
21 +
NBC News Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; September 22, 1993;.
22 +
Mellman, Lazarus, and Lake/National Women's Law Center Poll . Washington, DC: National Women's Law Center; May 14, 1993;.
23 +
Gallup Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; September 9, 1988;.
24 +
ABC News/Washington Post Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 30, 1991;.
25 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 31, 1991;.
26 +
Time/CNN/Yankelovich Clancy Shulman Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 17, 1991;.
27 +
Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; February 26, 1993;.
28 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 17, 1992;.
29 +
Los Angeles Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; March 3, 1989;.
30 +
CBS News/New York Times Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 6, 1984;.
31 +
ABC News Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 6, 1984;.
32 +
CBS News/New York Times Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 8, 1988;.
33 +
Los Angeles Times Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 8, 1988;.
34 +
ABC News Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 8, 1988;.
35 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; October 30, 1992;.
36 +
American Viewpoint Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 8, 1992;.
37 +
Voter Research and Surveys Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 3, 1992;.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Henshaw SK, Martire G.  Abortion and the public opinion polls: morality and legality. Fam Plann Perspect . 1982;;14:53-60.
2 +
Scott J.  Conflicting beliefs about abortion: legal approval and moral doubts. Soc Psychol Q . 1989;;52:319-326.
3 +
Research and Forecasts/Hearst Corporation Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; October 20, 1986;.
4 +
Roe v Wade, 410 US 113 (1973).
5 +
Gallup Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; August 23, 1962;.
6 +
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 15, 1992;.
7 +
CBS News/New York Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; September 17, 1989;.
8 +
Associated Press Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 29, 1992;.
9 +
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; June 4, 1993;.
10 +
Los Angeles Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; June 28, 1991;.
11 +
Gallup Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; March 12, 1993;.
12 +
National Opinion Research Center Poll . Chicago, Ill: National Opinion Research Center; December 1, 1965;.
13 +
Davis JA, Smith TW. General Social Surveys, 1972-1993: Cumulative Codebook . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; 1993;.
14 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; October 1, 1993;.
15 +
Los Angeles Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; June 12, 1993;.
16 +
Princeton Survey Research Associates/Times Mirror Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; April 30, 1992;.
17 +
CBS News/New York Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 8, 1992;.
18 +
ABC News/Washington Post Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 1, 1992;.
19 +
Princeton Survey Research Associates/Newsweek Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; April 8, 1993;.
20 +
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; April 17, 1993;.
21 +
NBC News Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; September 22, 1993;.
22 +
Mellman, Lazarus, and Lake/National Women's Law Center Poll . Washington, DC: National Women's Law Center; May 14, 1993;.
23 +
Gallup Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; September 9, 1988;.
24 +
ABC News/Washington Post Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 30, 1991;.
25 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; May 31, 1991;.
26 +
Time/CNN/Yankelovich Clancy Shulman Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 17, 1991;.
27 +
Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; February 26, 1993;.
28 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 17, 1992;.
29 +
Los Angeles Times Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; March 3, 1989;.
30 +
CBS News/New York Times Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 6, 1984;.
31 +
ABC News Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 6, 1984;.
32 +
CBS News/New York Times Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 8, 1988;.
33 +
Los Angeles Times Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 8, 1988;.
34 +
ABC News Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 8, 1988;.
35 +
Harris Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; October 30, 1992;.
36 +
American Viewpoint Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; July 8, 1992;.
37 +
Voter Research and Surveys Election Day Exit Poll . Storrs, Conn: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; November 3, 1992;.

Letters

Submit a Letter
CME Course for:


You need to register in order to view this quiz.


To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
Accreditation Information The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
To view and print your certificate and access a summary of your CME courses go to My CME.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Response

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems