In brief
The overturning of Roe v. Wade has resulted in increased infant mortality in states with abortion restrictions, with particular impacts on vulnerable groups, while also correlating to a rise in fertility rates.
Infant mortality rates in the U.S. have marked a troubling rise in states that have implemented stringent abortion bans since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. A study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlights an alarming estimate of 478 additional infant deaths in 14 states that enacted bans or imposed heavy restrictions on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Alison Gemmill, one of the study's co-leaders, expressed concern that "restrictive abortion policies" are undermining decades of progress made in reducing infant mortality across the country.The Supreme Court's ruling reversed nearly 50 years of constitutional protection for women's rights to terminate pregnancies. The current landscape, as of January 2025, shows that 17 states have nearly abolished abortions, with Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, among others, implementing full bans. Meanwhile, other states like Florida and Georgia have set stricter limits, allowing procedures only within six weeks. Statistics reveal that in states with these new laws, infant mortality rates have escalated to 6.26 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to the expected rate of 5.93—equating to a relative increase of 5.6%. Increases have been particularly significant among infants born with congenital anomalies, where the mortality rate rose sharply from an expected 1.24 to 1.37 per 1,000 live births.Tragically, non-Hispanic Black infants have been disproportionately affected, exhibiting a mortality rate of 11.81 per 1,000 births post-ban, exceeding an expected 10.66. This study points to a link between the increase in infant mortality due to congenital disorders and the denial of abortions in cases where a pregnancy is deemed non-viable. Furthermore, research indicates that these abortion bans have complex implications beyond infant mortality, also correlating with increased fertility rates in affected states. Following the Roe v. Wade decision reversal, birth rates rose by approximately 1.7% in states with severe restrictions, mirrored most acutely in areas already struggling with maternal and child health outcomes.As the debate around reproductive rights continues, the study underscores the urgent implications of restrictive abortion policies on both infant health and broader societal welfare.
