To gauge opinions regarding life-affirming pregnancy centers (also known as pregnancy resource, pregnancy care and/or pregnancy help centers) the survey first provided a description of the services these types of groups offer: “These centers provide free medical services and other support to women with an unexpected pregnancy and encourage them to give birth to their babies. They do not offer or refer women for abortions.” Then to follow up, “Do you have an overall opinion of organizations of this kind?” A range of favorable and unfavorable options for response were provided.

80% of Americans have positive view of #Prolife Pregnancy Centers 

An impressive 80 percent of respondents reported a “favorable view” of pregnancy centers with 46 percent of women and 37 percent of men saying “very favorable.” Such results speak to broad-based support of charitable abortion alternatives outreach and expansion of such outreach.

The survey went on to measure opinions towards organizations which provide and refer for abortions by asking,“There is another type of organization which works with pregnant women. These organizations help women who do not want to become or stay pregnant. They do offer abortions and refer women for abortions. Do you have an overall opinion of organizations of this kind?”

The question clearly asked whether survey participants held positive or negative feelings about organizations that provide abortions with the same range of favorable and unfavorable ratings (Planned Parenthood was not specifically named in this question). The responses indicated a sharp divergence in opinions with 49 percent positive impressions and 43 percent negative impressions.

Among women, the overall positive-negative split was similarly 50 percent positive and 42 percent negative impressions for abortion providing and referring facilities. This split stands in stark contrast to a much stronger 83 percent positive opinion of pregnancy centers by women versus only 12 percent negative opinion of pregnancy centers. The same pattern held for men’s responses in the poll.

With respect to general opinions, facilities or clinics that offer abortion have divided public favorability, even among men and women who self-identify as pro-choice.

Next, Planned Parenthood name recognition was tested by telling poll participants that a network of these facilities offering the abortion services described above exists and is called Planned Parenthood. There was sweeping recognition with 93 percent of women and 90 percent of men indicating having heard of the group. (Note: the 2014 CLI poll was conducted prior to the 2015 release of the Center for Medical Progress’ undercover videos.)

A following set of questions asked if participants knew of someone (which could include one’s self) who had visited either a pregnancy center or Planned Parenthood center/facility or used their services. If indicating yes, they had been to a facility or knew someone personally who had been to one, men and women respondents were then asked if the experience was very or somewhat positive or very or somewhat negative in an effort to learn more about experiences at both types of pregnancy care-related groups.

Negative Experience with #PlannedParenthood Twice as Likely