Research suggests the bans disproportionately affect marginalized communities, further intensifying health disparities.
Rising Infant Mortality Linked to Abortion Bans in US States, New Research Reveals
Rising Infant Mortality Linked to Abortion Bans in US States, New Research Reveals
Study indicates significant increase in infant deaths following restrictive abortion laws adopted post-Roe v. Wade reversal.
As the reverberations of the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade continue to be felt, a new study indicates a troubling rise in infant mortality rates in U.S. states that have implemented stringent abortion bans. According to research published this week by scholars at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health, these restrictions have led to an estimated 478 additional infant deaths across 14 states that have outlawed or heavily limited abortion after six weeks of pregnancy — deaths that, researchers argue, would not have occurred had abortion access remained available.
Alison Gemmill, a co-leader of the study, emphasized that these "restrictive abortion policies" could disrupt progress made over the years to decrease infant mortality in the United States. Since the landmark ruling that returned control over abortion legality to individual states, mortality rates for infants diagnosed with congenital issues have seen a concerning increase, particularly among disadvantaged groups at elevated risk for such outcomes.
As it stands, 17 states have enacted laws that severely restrict abortion access, including Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas, with others implementing similar bans after various gestational limits like six weeks or twelve weeks. The research shows that in the affected states, the infant mortality rate climbed to 6.26 deaths per 1,000 live births, surpassing an expected rate of 5.93 — a relative rise of 5.6%. Disturbingly, deaths related to congenital anomalies increased from a predicted 1.24 to 1.37 per 1,000 live births, amounting to a relative spike of nearly 11%.
Among non-Hispanic Black infants, mortality rates also surged from an expected 10.66 to 11.81 deaths per 1,000 live births. The complexity of these findings suggests that while some of the increases are due to women being denied abortions for non-viable pregnancies, the rising rates from other causes point to a multifactorial crisis exacerbated by restricted access to healthcare services.
Parallel research from Johns Hopkins has also noted that abortion bans correlate with rising fertility rates in the same states, with births per 1,000 reproductive-aged women increasing by 1.7%, translating to an estimated 22,180 more births. These findings highlight the broader implications of the legislative changes on maternal and child health, especially in areas already grappling with health disparities.
As debates continue over the future of abortion rights in America, these studies raise critical questions about the interplay between reproductive health policies and their tangible effects on public health outcomes.
Alison Gemmill, a co-leader of the study, emphasized that these "restrictive abortion policies" could disrupt progress made over the years to decrease infant mortality in the United States. Since the landmark ruling that returned control over abortion legality to individual states, mortality rates for infants diagnosed with congenital issues have seen a concerning increase, particularly among disadvantaged groups at elevated risk for such outcomes.
As it stands, 17 states have enacted laws that severely restrict abortion access, including Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas, with others implementing similar bans after various gestational limits like six weeks or twelve weeks. The research shows that in the affected states, the infant mortality rate climbed to 6.26 deaths per 1,000 live births, surpassing an expected rate of 5.93 — a relative rise of 5.6%. Disturbingly, deaths related to congenital anomalies increased from a predicted 1.24 to 1.37 per 1,000 live births, amounting to a relative spike of nearly 11%.
Among non-Hispanic Black infants, mortality rates also surged from an expected 10.66 to 11.81 deaths per 1,000 live births. The complexity of these findings suggests that while some of the increases are due to women being denied abortions for non-viable pregnancies, the rising rates from other causes point to a multifactorial crisis exacerbated by restricted access to healthcare services.
Parallel research from Johns Hopkins has also noted that abortion bans correlate with rising fertility rates in the same states, with births per 1,000 reproductive-aged women increasing by 1.7%, translating to an estimated 22,180 more births. These findings highlight the broader implications of the legislative changes on maternal and child health, especially in areas already grappling with health disparities.
As debates continue over the future of abortion rights in America, these studies raise critical questions about the interplay between reproductive health policies and their tangible effects on public health outcomes.
