A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals an increase in infant mortality rates in states with abortion bans or bans after six weeks of pregnancy. According to the reports, the abortion bans exacerbate already existing health disparities. In addition to an overall increase in infant mortality, research also indicates that African American infants and babies from marginalized communities are affected the most.
From 2012 to 2023, researchers gathered thousands of state-level birth and death records for infants and compared trends before and after the implementation of abortion bans. They found that states with abortion restrictions saw an 11% increase in Black infant deaths, while states without restrictions did not experience the same trend. Nationwide, infant mortality rates have been declining steadily for decades. Still, in abortion-ban states, they rose by 5.6%, leading to nearly 500 additional infant deaths beyond what was expected in just one year.
Researchers also categorized the data according to cause of death and race and ethnicity. Deaths due to congenital anomalies—conditions often detected during pregnancy—rose by nearly 11% in restrictive states. This suggests that when people are forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term, infant mortality rates rise. Before abortion bans, states averaged 5.93 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. After bans were enacted, this number increased to 6.26 per 1,000 births. For Black infants, the rate jumped from 10.66 to 11.81 per 1,000 births—a significant disparity.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, healthcare providers have expressed concern over these increasing rates, particularly in states where maternal and infant health outcomes were already among the worst in the country. Dr. Sarah Martinez, Director of Maternal Health Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, explains that the restrictions mainly affect high-risk pregnancies. “When patients with severe fetal anomalies or other high-risk conditions cannot access abortion care, they’re often forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term,” she says. “This isn’t just about politics – we’re seeing measurable impacts on infant health outcomes.”
These findings highlight the need for further investigation into the long-term effects of abortion restrictions on infant and maternal health. While some states are working to expand Medicaid coverage and increase funding for maternal care, experts argue that without broader access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, disparities in infant mortality—particularly among Black and marginalized communities—will likely continue to rise.
SOURCES
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2830298?resultClick=1
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/13/health/abortion-bans-lead-to-births-infant-deaths/index.html