The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health Releases National Latina/o Voter Poll on Contraception and Abortion

WASHINGTON, DC — New polling released today found that the vast majority of Latina/o voters  (86%) consider birth control part of preventive health care for women. In contrast, (82%) does not see birth control through a religious lens, including 76% of Catholic respondents. The national poll, which surveyed 1,043 Latina/o registered voters, was conducted by PerryUndem and commissioned by the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH). Among its key findings is the fact that Latina/o voters are more likely than the electorate overall to say they support laws requiring health insurance plans to cover birth control without a co-pay. The poll also underscores that a large majority of Latina/o voters want the new Supreme Court justice to uphold access to safe, legal abortion in the United States. In addition, the poll also finds that 81% of Latina/o voters agree that whether she has private or government funded health coverage, every woman should have coverage for full range of pregnancy related care, including abortion.

“The poll comes at a time of unprecedented attacks to birth control, access to abortion, and other essential reproductive health care,” said Jessica González-Rojas, executive director for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. “The results clearly show where Latina/o voters stand on these issues, reaffirming what we already know about our community’s beliefs and needs for affordable birth control. Latinas are the most uninsured group in the country, and immigrant Latinas face even more challenges to accessing care, like language and geographical barriers.”

“The extra costs associated with getting a birth control prescription, including paying out-of-pocket for a doctor’s visit if you don’t have insurance, forces many Latinas and their families to decide between contraception or putting food on the table. Affordable birth control without a co-pay helps Latinas decide when and whether to become a parent and gives them the ability to plan for their future with dignity and self-determination.  NLIRH will keep fighting until all people are guaranteed full and accurate information about their health care options, access to abortion services and to all effective methods of birth control, allowing them to choose the method that is best for them.” González-Rojas concluded.
 

Key findings on birth control include:

Latina/o voters consider birth control preventive health care

The vast majority of Latina/o voters (82%) does not see birth control through a religious lens, including 76% of Catholic respondents. Rather, most Latina/o voters (86%) consider birth control part of preventive health care for women.

Latina/o voters support access to over-the-counter birth control and insurance coverage for birth control

Three in four Latina/o respondents support access to over-the-counter birth control pills if the Food and Drug Administration said it was safe and effective.

Latino/a voters are more likely than the electorate overall to say they support laws requiring health insurance plans to cover birth control without a co-pay (78% of Latina/o voters v. 67% of all voters, from a March 2017 PerryUndem survey).

Key findings on abortion include:

Latina/o voters support Roe v. Wade and insurance coverage for abortion

As we have seen in the past, majorities of Latina/o voters support abortion rights and access, including 73% who say it is important that the next Supreme Court justice rule to uphold women’s access to safe, legal abortion.

81% of Latina/o voters agree that whether she has private or government funded health coverage, every woman should have coverage for full range of pregnancy related care, including abortion.

Latina/o voters have compassionate views towards those who have abortions

Nearly nine in ten respondents (87%) say they would give support to a loved one who had an abortion.

The poll memo and top lines, as well as the Spanish and English questionnaires, can be found at this link.

Methodology:

The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health commissioned PerryUndem to conduct a national survey that explores Latinx voters’ views and experiences toward reproductive health care. The survey was conducted August 7 through September 4, 2018 among n = 1,043 Latinx registered voters, using NORC’s AmeriSpeak panel at the University of Chicago. The survey was administered in English and Spanish. The margin of sampling error is + 4.9 percentage points.

For more information on NLIRH’s fight for health, dignity and justice, visit us at latinainstitute.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @NLIRH.

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The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national reproductive justice organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance health, dignity, and justice for 28 million Latinas, their families, and communities in the United States through leadership development, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.