From: keegan@acm.rpi.edu (James G. Keegan Jr.)
Subject: Survey: teens ought to know about birth control
Organization: T.S.A.K.C.
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 02:09:55 GMT

From: clarinews@clarinet.com (UPI)
Subject: Survey: teens ought to know about birth control
Keywords: sex, human interest, children, special interest, lifestyle trends,
	trends, sexual issues, social issues
Date: 11 Oct 92 22:35:01 GMT

	CHICAGO (UPI) -- Nearly three-fourths of Chicago-area heads of
households believe inquiring teens should be given birth control
information, said a survey released Monday.
	Support varied among age, politics and religion, but overall, 74
percent of the respondents agreed teenagers should be instructed on how
to avoid pregnancy if they ask for the information, said the Metro
Chicgo Information Center.
	The findings never fell below 58 percent in the center's annual Metro
Area Survey. Pollsters questioned approximately 3,000 households in
Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Will Counties by telephone and in
person.
	The lowest level of support for the idea came from resondents age 60
and over. The group also tallied the largest number of undecided
responses, the report said -- almost one in 10 were unsure whether to say
``yes'' or ``no'' in the survey.
	Their younger counterparts, those aged 18 to 35, overwhelmingly
approved of the proposal. Approximately 81 percent of the respondents in
that age group felt teenagers who ask should get birth control
information. About 74 percent of those age 36 to 60 concurred.
	Women support teen access to birth control information slightly more
than men, 75 to 72 percent, according to the survey.
	More Democrats favored giving teens the information than Republicans,
77 to 73 percent. Independents edged slightly higher at 74 percent,
while those who expressed no political preference had the lowest level
of support among the various groups at 68 percent.
	Among racial groups, blacks (77 percent) are more prone to support
birth control information than whites (73 percent) or Hispanics (76
percent).
	Religious groups varied considerably in the findings. Catholics are
the least supportive at 70 percent, with Protestants at 73 percent and
Jews at 79 percent. Respondents who gave no religious preference were
most keen on the idea -- 88 percent of those polled said they favored
giving birth control information to teenagers.
	And the frequency those polled went to church seemed to have some
play in the results. Those who attend church once a month had the
highest level of support, at 81 percent, while only 64 percent of those
people who attend religious services several times a week backed the
idea.
	The household's income appeared to have little effect on the outcome.
Three-fourths of those households making from $25,000 to $50,000
believed it was appropriate to give teens the information. Those with an
income of less than $25,000 scored slightly lower, at 73 percent, and
households with incomes of more than $50,000 totalled slightly higher,
at 77 percent.
	The majority of respondents on government assistance also agreed with
the proposal. 85 percent of both Assistance to Families with Dependent
Children and General Assistance recipients said it was a good idea,
while 80 percent of those surveyed who receive food stamps thought so.

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