Infant Mortality Rate Rises in States with Abortion Bans, Study Finds

A new study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions found that infant mortality rates have risen in states with abortion bans enacted after Roe v. Wade’s overturning. Analyzing birth data from 2013-2023, researchers identified 478 infant deaths in 14 states with complete or six-week bans that they say could have been prevented.

The study highlights increased mortality among infants with congenital conditions and a nearly 11% rise in deaths among non-Hispanic Black infants. The findings underscore the public health impact of restrictive abortion laws, particularly in Southern states like Texas, where disparities in infant survival rates have widened. Read more from The Hill here.