Abortion rights get growing support in U.S.: Poll

(CBS) Support for abortion rights is rising in the U.S., a new poll shows.

The Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll showed that 36 percent of adults think women should have access to abortion in "all circumstances. That's up from 23 percent in 2009.

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The percentage of adults opposed to abortion under any circumstances fell from 21 percent in 2009 to 17 percent this year, according to a statement published on the Harris website.

"Despite the current trend of fiscal conservatism in the United States stemming from the economic downturn, Americans overall remain socially moderate on abortion rights," Jennifer Colamonico, senior vice president for healthcare research at Harris, said in the statement.

The poll - an online survey of nearly 2,400 adults conducted in early July - comes at a time when some states have been taking steps to restrict access to abortion. These include cutting funding to Planned Parenthood, a major provider of abortion services, and requiring women to have an ultrasound of the fetus before having an abortion.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has more on abortion.