Infant Mortality Rises Post-Roe Overturn, Study Shows

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics by researchers from The Ohio State University indicates a significant rise in infant mortality rates in the US following the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. The study found a 7% increase in infant mortality and a 10% increase for infants born with congenital anomalies, attributing approximately 80% of additional deaths to such birth defects. This rise is linked to restricted access to abortion, which previously allowed termination of pregnancies involving severe fetal anomalies. The increase in infant mortality has been observed nationwide, with some states experiencing more severe impacts due to state-level abortion bans. Experts have pointed out that these bans have broader implications on maternal and infant health care access. These findings have become a point of contention in the current US political landscape, with significant attention from both sides of the political spectrum.