Infant mortality increased after Dobbs: Here’s what you need to know

In other words, more babies are dying shortly after birth, rather than in the womb, in the 20 states that maintain pregnancy bans on abortion procedures.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Monday used preliminary 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to compare infant mortality statistics since 2018.

Researchers found that the national overall monthly infant mortality rate was 1.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, but the mortality rate for infants with congenital conditions averaged 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

After the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization The June 2022 decision increased infant mortality by 7% overall and by 10% for infants with disabilities.

About 80% of the additional child deaths that follow Dobbs are due to congenital abnormalities.

A similar study was conducted this summer using infant mortality data from Texas, where abortion is completely banned except to protect the life of the mother.

The Texas-specific study found that infant mortality in Texas increased 8.3% between 2021 and 2022 after the law first went into effect, compared to a 2.2% increase in the U.S. overall. This was again due to the increased number of children born with congenital defects.

While the authors of Monday’s study do not directly call for the restoration of abortion rights, they do emphasize that the increase in infant mortality is partly due to “rapid changes in state abortion laws” and say that “restricting care could lead to widespread abortion laws.” negative health consequences.”

Dr. Ingrid Skop, a gynecologist and director of medical affairs at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion organization, told the Washington Examiner that the consequences of Monday JAMA article are ‘sinister’.

“Congenital defects are not caused by abortion restrictions, and promoting abortion when an unborn child has been tragically diagnosed does not prevent his or her death,” Skop said. “It just kills the baby before birth, and that death will not be recorded in the infant mortality statistics.”