Infant mortality rates have surged in U.S. states that have implemented abortion bans following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. A recent study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlights a troubling correlation between restrictive abortion policies and increased infant deaths in states with stringent regulations.
The study estimates that approximately 478 infant deaths occurred across 14 states with bans or severe restrictions on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy—deaths that researchers assert would likely not have happened had the bans not been in place. Alison Gemmill, a co-leader of the study, expressed concern that these restrictive policies could undo decades of progress made in reducing infant mortality in the United States.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling dismantled the constitutional right to abortion, which had been protected for nearly 50 years, allowing individual states to set their own abortion laws. As of January 2025, 17 states have enacted laws that effectively outlaw nearly all abortions, with some exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or threats to the mother’s health.
The analysis revealed that in states where abortion laws were tightened, the infant mortality rate rose to 6.26 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to an expected rate of 5.93 per 1,000—a 5.6% increase. Additionally, deaths from congenital anomalies increased from an anticipated 1.24 to 1.37 per 1,000 live births, marking a 10.87% rise. Mortality rates from other causes also saw a slight uptick, going from 4.69 to 4.89 per 1,000 live births.
Disparities were particularly pronounced among disadvantaged populations. For instance, non-Hispanic Black infants faced a mortality rate of 11.81 per 1,000 live births in states with bans, compared to an expected rate of 10.66, reflecting an increase of nearly 11%. The study suggests that the rise in infant mortality due to congenital conditions may be linked to women being denied abortions in cases of non-viable pregnancies.
The findings underscore the broader implications of abortion bans not only on maternal health but also on infant health outcomes. The research indicates that these policies disproportionately affect vulnerable populations already at a higher risk for adverse health outcomes, further complicating access to timely medical care.
In addition to rising infant mortality, separate research from the same institution indicates that abortion bans are associated with increased fertility rates, suggesting that the number of births per 1,000 women of reproductive age rose by 1.7% in affected states after the Roe v. Wade decision.
As the debate over abortion rights continues to polarize communities across the U.S., the implications of these findings raise critical questions about the intersection of reproductive health policies and public health outcomes.