Public Support for International Family Planning

President Bush’s decision to impose a global gag rule on international family planning providers is being viewed unfavorably by half of the American public, according to polling results released by Newsweek Feb. 10.

Newsweek reported that more than 50% of Americans disagree with President Bush’s memorandum banning federal funds to international family planning service providers that use their own funds to provide information, counseling or services related to abortion. In the Newsweek poll, the global gag rule was even less popular that the Administration’s plan to drill for oil in an unspoiled Alaskan wildlife refuge.

Public opinion polls over the past decade show continued concern among the American public about rapid population growth and strong support for international family planning programs:

• RAND, a leading non-partisan policy research think tank, released last year the results of an in-depth research project showing overwhelming support by the American public for international family planning efforts. The RAND report indicates that more than 80% of the public supports funding for voluntary international family planning programs. Perhaps most striking, the report found majority support for international family planning among every socioeconomic and demographic subgroup surveyed.



• In late 1999, the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press issued the results of its survey of American views about the upcoming 21st century. The findings indicate that population growth and related concerns about global environmental degradation rank among the top three concerns for the future held by Americans.



• A new report by the University of Maryland’s Program on International Policy Attitudes also shows growing support for foreign assistance programs and continued misperceptions among the public regarding the amount of the federal budget that is allocated as foreign assistance. The median estimate among those polled was that the U.S. spends 20% of its budget on international aid, when the true figure is less than 1%.

These studies show strong public support for the comprehensive approach adopted by governments worldwide at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. International assistance programs to enhance child survival and health, promote family planning, reduce the educational gender gap, improve women’s health and status, protect the environment and encourage male responsibility all generate substantial support from the American public.

For more information:

• Full text of RAND’s report on How American’s View World Population Issues is available here.
• Read findings from The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press on Americans Look to the 21st Century.
• www.Kaisernetwork.org, a project of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, tracks a number of polls on reproductive health.
• The non-partisan group Public Agenda also tracks public opinion about America’s global role

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