In brief
A recent study indicates that infant mortality rates have risen in states that have enacted strict abortion laws after the 2022 Supreme Court decision. Researchers highlight concerning statistics, particularly among disadvantaged groups.
In a troubling correlation, a new study has demonstrated that states enforcing strict abortion bans have experienced rising infant mortality rates in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade. Researchers from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reported that approximately 478 infant deaths would not have occurred in 14 states with high restrictions on abortion following six weeks of pregnancy. Co-leader of the research, Alison Gemmill, warned that such "restrictive abortion policies" threaten to undo years of progress in the fight against infant mortality in the United States.Since the high court's ruling in 2022, which rescinded a 50-year legal precedent allowing women to terminate pregnancies, states such as Idaho, Alabama, and Texas have imposed stringent abortion laws. Currently, 17 states have effectively banned nearly all abortions, allowing only limited exceptions under specific circumstances. The study identified that states enforcing these bans have seen infant mortality rates rise to approximately 6.26 per 1,000 live births, surpassing the expected rate of 5.93 per 1,000—marking a relative increase of 5.6%.Further alarming findings included an uptick in deaths from congenital anomalies following abortion restrictions, with the rate climbing from an anticipated 1.24 per 1,000 live births to 1.37 per 1,000—a relative increase of over 10%. Additionally, mortality from various other causes rose as well, affecting non-Hispanic Black infants particularly hard, where the death rate rose significantly to 11.81 per 1,000 live births, compared to the expected 10.66.The researchers posited that the increase in congenital-related deaths is likely linked to women being denied abortions for non-viable pregnancies, leading to tragic outcomes. As such policies disproportionately affect already disadvantaged populations, these groups are experiencing mounting barriers to adequate healthcare, exacerbating the crisis.The study’s implications extend beyond infant mortality: another research piece from the same institution found that post-Roe v Wade, states with abortion bans are witnessing an increase in fertility rates, with births per 1,000 reproductive-age women rising by 1.7%, translating into roughly 22,180 additional births. This trend appears especially pronounced in states with poor maternal and child health metrics.As ongoing debates surrounding abortion come to the forefront, this research underscores the pressing and potentially dire consequences of restrictive reproductive laws on infant health within the United States.
