A recent study highlights how the overturning of Roe v. Wade has contributed to rising infant mortality rates in US states with abortion restrictions, particularly affecting disadvantaged populations.
Study Links Increased Infant Mortality to Abortion Bans in US States
Study Links Increased Infant Mortality to Abortion Bans in US States
Research shows that states with strict abortion laws have seen a notable rise in infant mortality rates.
Infant mortality rates have surged in US states that have implemented strict abortion bans in the wake of the Roe v. Wade ruling. A comprehensive study has revealed that approximately 478 infant deaths across 14 such states are estimated to have occurred due to these prohibitive practices. Alison Gemmill, the co-leader of the research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, emphasized that these "restrictive abortion policies" may reverse significant progress gained over decades in reducing infant mortality.
The 2022 Supreme Court decision ended the federal constitutional right to abortion, an action many communities have since debated fervently. The research indicates that states that have wholly banned abortions, such as Idaho and Texas, exhibit an alarming increase in infant mortality rates, which have risen to 6.26 per 1,000 live births compared to the anticipated rate of 5.93.
The mortality rates linked to congenital anomalies also rose significantly in these states, from an expected 1.24 to 1.37 per 1,000 live births—a relative increase of over 10%. Furthermore, specific demographics, such as non-Hispanic Black infants, faced an increase in mortality rates from an expected figure of 10.66 per 1,000 to 11.81 per 1,000 after the bans.
Research indicates that the rise in death rates from congenital malformations correlates with instances where women were denied abortions for non-viable pregnancies. The findings also suggest that bans disproportionately affect populations already at higher risk of infant mortality, resulting in delays in medical care.
Additionally, another study from Johns Hopkins pointed out a concerning trend: post-Roe v. Wade, fertility rates in affected states increased by 1.7%, indicating a substantial rise in births despite the health risks highlighted by the bans. This upward trend in fertility was most pronounced in states with the poorest maternal and child health outcomes.
As policy discussions continue across the United States concerning reproductive rights and health measures, communities are left grappling with the direct consequences of these legislative changes.
