Study links spike in infant deaths to Texas abortion ban

Infant deaths surged 12.9% in Texas compared with 1.8% for the rest of the country after the state in 2021 enacted a strict abortion ban with no exceptions for birth defects, according to a new study in JAMA Pediatrics.

Why it matters: The findings add to a body of evidence showing infants born in states with more abortion restrictions are likelier to die before they're 1 year old.

What they found: The analysis of monthly death certificate data showed that between 2021 and 2022 the number of infant deaths increased...