U.S. Infant Mortality Rises Post-Abortion Rights Repeal

A study links the Supreme Court's decision to end federal abortion protections with increased infant deaths due to congenital anomalies.

The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found a 7% increase in infant mortality rates in the months following the Supreme Court's June 2022 decision.
Researchers identified 247 additional infant deaths per month during October 2022, March 2023, and April 2023, primarily due to congenital anomalies.
At least 20 states have enacted partial or total abortion bans since the Supreme Court ruling, impacting access to reproductive health services.
The study's authors, Maria Gallo and Parvati Singh, highlight the broader human toll, including mental health impacts on women denied abortions.
The upcoming U.S. presidential election will see voters in ten states decide on the protection of abortion rights at the state level.