Infant deaths jumped in Texas after abortion ban

Babies born in states with more abortion restrictions may be likelier to die within a year

Anti-abortion sign in Texas
Infant deaths in Texas rose by 12.8% after the 2021 abortion ban
(Image credit: Jeffrey McWhorter for the Washington Post)

What happened

Infant deaths in Texas rose by 12.8% after the state banned almost all abortions in 2021, versus 1.8% nationwide, researchers said Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Deaths attributed to birth defects jumped 22.9% in Texas while dropping 3.1% in the rest of the country.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.