In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered that the Texas abortion ban, implemented in June, was associated with an alarming rise in infant and neonatal mortality rates.
The researchers conducted a study using data from 94,720 recorded infant deaths in Texas and compared it to data from 28 other states.
In September 2021, the Texas Senate passed a bill known as SB8, which prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Babies can be born as early as five weeks. However, it’s important to note that congenital anomalies, which are conditions that can lead to a newborn’s death shortly after birth, are not considered exemptions.
The study compared infant death rates in 28 states from 2018 to 2022, focusing on newborns 28 days or younger and infants up to 12 months old. In Texas, the number of infant deaths increased from 1,985 in 2021 to 2,240 in 2022.
Infant deaths rose by approximately 2% nationwide, while in Texas, there was a nearly 13% increase in the year following the passage of SB8.
According to the study, Texas experienced a significant increase (22.9%) in infant deaths caused by congenital anomalies in 2022, while the rest of the United States saw a decrease (3.1%).
