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The U.S. infant mortality rate increased after Dobbs, according to a new study

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The U.S. infant mortality rate increased after Dobbs, according to a new study

Infants born with congenital anomalies were most affected by the increased mortality rate.

Child mortality rates rise after Roe v. Wade was overthrown and states began introducing strict abortion bans.

The study, published Monday by JAMA Pediatrics, analyzed infant mortality rates before and 18 months after Dobbs v. Jackson overturned Roe V. Wade, which protected the constitutional right to abortion.

It found that the mortality rate for infants born with congenital anomalies increased by 10% nationwide. The mortality rate increased by 7% for all infants born in the United States with and without underlying medical conditions.

“Infant mortality rates were higher than expected overall and among infants with congenital anomalies for several monthse Dobbs decision,” the study states.

The finding follows an earlier study by JAMA Pediatrics that found the state saw an increase in infant deaths following the Texas heartbeat law, which includes a near-total ban on abortion.

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What are Congenital Anomalies?

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, congenital anomalies can include:

  • Heart defects, such as missing or deformed heart valves.
  • Neural tube defects, when the spinal cord, brain, and other associated body parts do not form properly. It usually occurs early during pregnancy.

Abortion bans after Dobbs decision

Dobbs v. Jackson is the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) and left it up to the states to decide whether to ban abortions.

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Denied or delayed abortions despite a medical emergency

In 2022, Texas passed a ban preventing all but a few abortions.

In early October, the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration's attempt to mandate emergency abortions in Texas when necessary to prevent serious injury to the mother.

People in the state have filed federal complaints because they were denied abortions for ectopic pregnancies. They said they nearly died and suffered tubal leakage after being repeatedly turned away for treatment.

In May, the Texas Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the state's ban on abortion for women with serious pregnancy complications. That decision came months after the court ruled that Kate Cox, a Dallas-area mother who gave birth to a fetus with a fatal condition, was ineligible for an abortion under state law because her doctor believed “in good faith” that she needed the procedure.

In 2022, a Georgia woman also died after waiting 20 hours for a hospital to treat her complications from an abortion pill, according to ProPublica.

Contributor: Cy Neff, USA TODAY

Julia is a trends reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her LinkedInkeep following her X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram And TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected]

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