States with abortion bans saw increase in infant mortality rates, study finds
FILE-Demonstrators rally in support of abortion rights at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
A new study reveals that states with abortion bans experienced an increase in infant mortality rates.
The study published in the medical journal JAMA noted that in 14 states that implemented complete or 6-week abortion bans after the Supreme Court Dobbs decision revoked the federal right to abortion, the fertility rate increased 1.7%, leading to roughly 1 additional birth for every 1,000 women of reproductive age.
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By the numbers:
The study also found that with roughly 500 deaths than expected among nearly 22,000 additional births, the infant mortality rate for births linked to abortion bans – 24 deaths for every 1,000 births – was approximately four times higher than projected.
The estimated increases in infant mortality were larger for deaths based on congenital causes and among groups that had higher than average infant mortality rates at baseline, including Black infants and those in southern states.
How was data gathered for the study?
Researchers used study data that included biannual counts of neonatal and infant deaths, and the corresponding total number of live births, from birth and death certificate data compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics for all 50 US states and the District of Columbia from January 2012 through December 2023.
The study noted that biannual counts of infant deaths and live births were separately pulled for four racial and ethnic groups (racial and ethnic data were acquired from the death certificate, which is identified by the next of kin, coroner, or other person who certified the death) for each state over the same period.
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The primary outcome was the infant mortality rate, calculated as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births in each biannual period for each state over 12 years. Mortality rates were calculated overall and by race and ethnicity, timing of death and cause of death.
This study found that states that banned abortion had infant mortality rates higher than would have been expected without such bans. The largest estimated changes were observed among southern states and Black infants.
What did researchers conclude in the study?
Researchers noted that their analysis found an estimated increase of 0.33 infant deaths per 1000 live births above expected in states that banned abortion.
What they're saying:
The team shared that the results are consistent with clinician and media reports documenting denial of terminations for nonviable pregnancies, forcing pregnant women to overcome significant barriers to receive timely abortion care out of state or carry the pregnancy to term.
According to the study, the increase in infant mortality rate due to noncongenital causes is less straightforward and needs more investigation.
Moreover, researchers explained that the study provides new evidence that infant deaths were higher than expected in states that enforced abortion bans after the bans were implemented.