September 7, 2007

South Carolina EC Survey Results

Biannually, the University of South Carolina’s Institute for Public Service and Policy Research conducts the South Carolina State Survey. The survey is a cost-shared random probability survey that allows policy makers, researchers, and other interested organizations, such as the New Morning Foundation, gather reliable data about South Carolina citizens. The questions are pre-tested, and the respondents to be interviewed for the survey are selected from random samples of households with telephones in SC. To avoid biasing the sample in favor of households that can be reached by multiple phone numbers, each is case is weighted inversely to its probability of being included in the sample (Institute for Public Service and Policy Research, 2007).
New Morning Foundation submitted several questions related to emergency contraception (Plan B). Below are some general results. The Spring 2007 summary report also includes results by specific demographic characteristics (sex, race, age, education, income, type of area, region, and registered to vote).
1) Pharmacist has the right to refuse to fill a prescription:Yes - 24.7No - 60.4Not Sure - 14.9
Summary: Slightly more than 60% of South Carolinians believe that pharmacists do not have the right to refuse to fill a valid doctor’s prescription for emergency contraception if doing so goes against their personal beliefs.
2) Heard of various types of emergency contraception:the morning after pill Yes - 85.7No - 14.0DK - .3emergency birth control pillsYes - 51.6No - 47.2DK - 1.2emergency contraceptionYes - 40.3No - 57.3DK - 2.4Plan BYes - 25.3No - 72.3DK - 2.4
Summary: More than 85% have heard of the morning after pill, 51.6% have heard of emergency birth control pills, 40.3% have heard of emergency contraception, and only 25.3% have heard of Plan B.
3) Women can use Plan B to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.True - 39.9False - 8.1Not Sure - 52.0
Summary: A majority of respondents were not sure whether or not a woman can use Plan B to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.
For more information about emergency contraception, visit the South Carolina Emergency Contraception Initiative’s website.
Source: University of South Carolina’s Institute for Public Service and Policy Research: South Carolina State Survey Spring 2007 Summary Findings for the New Morning Foundation