The US infant mortality rate has been higher than expected since abortion rights were overruled

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-10-22 02:00

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Since the US constitutional right to abortion was overturned in mid-2022, infant mortality has been higher than expected in the country every month, according to an investigation of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The team looked at infant deaths from any cause across the US, as well as deaths in infants with congenital anomalies, following previous research which showed an increase in infant mortality in Texas after abortion was banned. The researchers say while the data they used from 2023 onwards is provisional and could be revised later, as it stands infant mortality was higher than expected in the months following the overturning of the right to abortion, and no month since has seen a lower than expected infant mortality rate. They say the mortality rate increased more among infants with congenital anomalies, suggesting a higher number of frail infants being born is a main contributor to the statistics.

Media release

From: JAMA

About The Study: Infant mortality was higher than expected, overall and among those with congenital anomalies, for several months after the Dobbs decision in the U.S. No post-Dobbs months (i.e., no months after June 2022) showed lower than expected infant mortality. These findings are consistent with the increase in infant mortality found in Texas following the state’s abortion ban

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Ohio State University, USA

Funder: None reported

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