Infant mortality increased post
- Infant mortality in the U.S. rose by 7% overall and 10% among infants with disabilities after the Dobbs decision in June 2022.
- A study showed the mortality rate in Texas increased by 8.3% from 2021 to 2022, linked to rising cases of congenital anomalies.
- The findings raise significant concerns regarding the health impacts of restricted abortion access in states enforcing strict laws.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in June 2022, new studies indicate a troubling increase in infant mortality, particularly among those born with congenital abnormalities. An analysis from the Journal of the American Medical Association highlighted that overall infant mortality climbed 7%, with a 10% rise for infants with disabilities since the decision. The comparison of data from 20 states enforcing gestational age restrictions on abortion revealed that a significant portion of the rising mortality rates can be attributed directly to congenital anomalies in newborns. In Texas, where strict abortion laws have been enacted, the increase in infant mortality was notable—a marked 8.3% from 2021 to 2022 versus a national average of 2.2% during the same period. Experts cautioned that these trends reflect negative health impacts due to the rapid changes in abortion laws. While the study's authors shy away from explicitly calling for a reinstatement of abortion rights, their findings imply serious health consequences from restricted access to care. In contrast, a representative from an anti-abortion organization disputed the study's conclusions, arguing that congenital anomalies are not a result of the limitations on abortion access. This complex debate highlights the dire implications for public health ensuing from restrictive abortion legislation and calls into question the broader consequences of such policies.