In a groundbreaking new study released this month by the Institute of Labor Economics, it has been revealed that since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, at least 30,000 babies have been born in states that enacted some form of abortion restriction. The study looked at the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned the issue of abortion to the states.
According to the study, there has been an average increase of 2.3 percent in births in states that are enforcing total abortion bans compared to a control group of states where abortion rights remain protected. This amounts to approximately 32,000 additional annual births resulting from abortion bans.
The trio of researchers who conducted the study called this shift the “most profound transformation of the landscape of U.S. abortion access in 50 years.” This conclusion was based on preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data showed that as of November 1, 2023, 14 states were enforcing bans on abortion in nearly all circumstances, and 23 percent of women of reproductive age in the United States have experienced an increase in driving distance to the nearest abortion facility, from an average of 43 miles one-way before Dobbs to 330 miles at present.
VICTORY! Overturning Roe v. Wade Has Already Saved 32,000 Babies From Abortion https://t.co/w7v95bZjQ7 pic.twitter.com/kNi3IBJHqy
— Stop Abortion Now (@LifeNewsToo) November 29, 2023
Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, hailed these findings as a “triumph that pro-life policies result in lives saved.” She rejected the suggestion that it is a negative thing for there to be more children welcomed in states with better laws, stating that it is a positive outcome for the lives of these children.
However, Alison Gemmill, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, offered a different perspective. She argued that these numbers reflect “an assault on reproductive autonomy.” Gemmill told CNN that the fact that such significant changes are being seen at the population level is “pretty strong evidence,” as fertility rates do not typically change dramatically.
The authors of the study also highlighted the potential consequences of restricted abortion access on the health and financial stability of vulnerable populations. They noted that in 2020, approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies ended in abortion, with 75 percent of patients being low-income and nearly 60 percent having previously given birth. Additionally, over half of patients reported a recent disruptive life event such as job loss or falling behind on rent.
According to this study, 30,000 additional babies are now alive due to Roe v Wade being overturned.
Think about that. If the pro-choice Left had won, 30,000 more babies would be dead. 30,000 more stolen lives. The line between good and evil has never been clearer. pic.twitter.com/Obr3xhQuoA
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) November 25, 2023
The study’s results also shed light on specific demographics affected by the abortion restrictions. It was found that Hispanic women and women aged 20 to 24 experienced the biggest increases in birth rates, with an average of 4.7% and 3.3% respectively. These percentages increased even further when taking the geography of abortion restrictions into consideration, with Mississippi seeing a 4.4% increase and Texas seeing a 5.1% increase.
Overall, the study paints a clear picture of the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion access. It brings to light both the consequences of restricted access for vulnerable populations and the positive outcome of more children being welcomed into the world. As this issue continues to be a highly debated and contested one, the study adds another layer to the ongoing discussion.
