A recent study has found that infant mortality rates have risen in U.S. states that implemented abortion bans following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to the procedure.
Researchers estimate that 478 infant deaths occurred across 14 states with strict abortion bans or restrictions after six weeks of pregnancy—deaths they believe could have been prevented if the bans were not in place.
Study co-leader Alison Gemmill warned that “restrictive abortion policies” could be undoing decades of progress in reducing infant mortality nationwide.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision that had protected abortion rights for nearly 50 years, allowing states to enforce their own regulations.
The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found rising mortality rates among infants born with congenital conditions and in groups already facing higher-than-average infant death rates. This includes Black infants and babies born to unmarried, younger, or less-educated parents, as well as those in southern states.
As of January 2025, 17 states have banned nearly all abortions, though some allow exceptions for rape, incest, or the mother’s health. States with total bans include Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. Meanwhile, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina prohibit abortion after six weeks, while Nebraska and North Carolina enforce bans after 12 weeks, and Utah restricts it beyond 18 weeks.
In states enforcing bans, infant mortality increased to 6.26 per 1,000 live births, compared to the expected 5.93 per 1,000—a 5.6% rise. Infant deaths due to congenital anomalies increased by 10.87%, from 1.24 to 1.37 per 1,000 live births, while mortality from other causes rose by 4.23%, from 4.69 to 4.89 per 1,000.
Among non-Hispanic Black infants, mortality climbed to 11.81 deaths per 1,000 live births—an 11% increase from the expected 10.66 per 1,000.
The study suggests that rising infant deaths due to congenital conditions align with more women being denied abortions in cases of non-viable pregnancies. However, researchers say the increase in deaths from other causes is less clear.
Additionally, the study indicates that abortion bans may disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations already at a greater risk of infant mortality, potentially due to delays in accessing medical care.
Separate research from Johns Hopkins also links abortion bans to rising fertility rates. Following Roe v. Wade’s reversal, birth rates increased by 1.7%—or 22,180 additional births—in affected states. The highest differences were observed in states already struggling with poor maternal and child health outcomes.
