This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Most Utahns see Planned Parenthood in a negative light.
And many say they do not want fetal tissue used for medical research, according to a new poll from the political newsletter UtahPolicy.
Overall, 56 percent of Utahns have a bad impression of the family-planning organization, while 37 percent view it favorably.
The 500 adults surveyed did not have a chance to weigh in on Gov. Gary Herbert's Aug. 14 announcement that the state no longer will pass through federal money to Planned Parenthood of Utah. The poll was conducted by Dan Jones & Associates from Aug. 7-14, before Herbert's office issued a news release with the order.
Still, UtahPolicy.com managing editor Bryan Schott figures most Utahns would agree with the governor's decision.
"If I had to take a guess," Schott said, "I would say it probably wouldn't move the needle too much."
The results were released Monday after two anti-Planned Parenthood protests in Salt Lake City last week. It also came in advance of a planned Tuesday night rally at the Capitol, where proponents of the family-planning organization are expected to gather.
In large part, Utah Democrats and Republicans who participated in the poll stuck to their respective parties' sides.
For GOP respondents, 79 percent disapprove of Planned Parenthood. On the other side, about 16 percent of Republicans have a favorable view.
A similar margin of GOP respondents — 73 percent — said they don't want fetal tissue used in medical research, while 20 percent support the practice.
Among Democrats, those findings were flipped, with 79 percent viewing the family-planning organization favorably, while 9 percent do not.
Also in a reverse of the conservative responses, nearly three out of four Utah Democrats — 73 percent — support fetal-tissue research.
Unaffiliated voters were split on Planned Parenthood — 50 percent unfavorable and 43 percent favorable.
Planned Parenthood Executive Director Karrie Galloway believes the key is how the questions are asked.
"I would like to see what questions they asked," Galloway said Monday. "It's how they set up a question which often gives you a specific response."
Earlier this month, Herbert joined GOP leaders nationwide in signaling his contempt for five videos secretly recorded and posted on the Internet that exposed the collection of fetal tissue. The anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress points to its videos as evidence that Planned Parenthood officials in Texas illegally negotiated prices for aborted fetal tissue.
Planned Parenthood, for its part, denies that it sells fetal tissue and maintains it only passes on handling costs — as is allowed by law.
Herbert said the Planned Parenthood executives on the videos were "callous" and disrespectful of the unborn.
According to its 2014 annual report, Planned Parenthood of Utah performed 25,492 breast and testicular cancer screenings, provided birth control to another 23,170 Utahns and terminated 1,602 pregnancies.
Last week, The Salt Lake Tribune asked readers, using the Utah Public Insight Network, if they ever had used Planned Parenthood and got about 625 responses. Fewer than 10 Utahns criticized the organization. Of that group, all but two had not been to Planned Parenthood and did not know anyone who had.
Several respondents to the newspaper's query reported going to Planned Parenthood for counseling or abortions. But the majority sought contraception or testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The UtahPolicy survey also delved into the feelings of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Catholic Church.
Most poll participants who identified themselves as "very active" Mormons don't like Planned Parenthood. A majority — 73 percent — view the organization unfavorably, while 19 percent have a more positive impression.
When it comes to using fetal tissue for medical research, the results were similar. Of those who said they were active Latter-day Saints, 69 percent oppose the idea. And 25 percent said they do not.
Utah's Catholics appear to be more split, with 55 percent looking at Planning Parenthood favorably, while 32 percent are left with a negative opinion.
More Utah Catholics also favor using fetal tissue for medical research — 59 percent to 41 percent — even though the Catholic Church opposes abortion.
The poll also highlighted differences among age groups. Overall, younger Utahns had more positive associations with the reproductive service provider.
Among participants ages 18 to 24, 72 percent said they approve of Planned Parenthood, while 21 percent do not. But just over two-thirds of the 65-and-older age group dislike the organization.
Twitter:@anniebknox —