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Laws Restricting Access to Abortion Services and Infant Mortality Risk in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Roman Pabayo

    (School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Amy Ehntholt

    (School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA)

  • Daniel M. Cook

    (School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA)

  • Megan Reynolds

    (Sociology Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84117, USA)

  • Peter Muennig

    (Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Sze Y. Liu

    (Public Health Department, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA)

Abstract

Objectives: Since the US Supreme Court′s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, states have enacted laws restricting access to abortion services. Previous studies suggest that restricting access to abortion is a risk factor for adverse maternal and infant health. The objective of this investigation is to study the relationship between the type and the number of state-level restrictive abortion laws and infant mortality risk. Methods: We used data on 11,972,629 infants and mothers from the US Cohort Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Files 2008–2010. State-level abortion laws included Medicaid funding restrictions, mandatory parental involvement, mandatory counseling, mandatory waiting period, and two-visit laws. Multilevel logistic regression was used to determine whether type or number of state-level restrictive abortion laws during year of birth were associated with odds of infant mortality. Results: Compared to infants living in states with no restrictive laws, infants living in states with one or two restrictive laws (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.99–1.18) and those living in states with 3 to 5 restrictive laws (AOR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.01–1.20) were more likely to die. Separate analyses examining the relationship between parental involvement laws and infant mortality risk, stratified by maternal age, indicated that significant associations were observed among mothers aged ≤19 years (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.00–1.19), and 20 to 25 years (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.03–1.17). No significant association was observed among infants born to older mothers. Conclusion: Restricting access to abortion services may increase the risk for infant mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Roman Pabayo & Amy Ehntholt & Daniel M. Cook & Megan Reynolds & Peter Muennig & Sze Y. Liu, 2020. "Laws Restricting Access to Abortion Services and Infant Mortality Risk in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:11:p:3773-:d:363177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Krieger, N. & Gruskin, S. & Singh, N. & Kiang, M.V. & Chen, J.T. & Waterman, P.D. & Gottlieb, J. & Beckfield, J. & Coull, B.A., 2015. "Reproductive justice and the pace of change: Socioeconomic trends in US Infant death rates by legal status of abortion, 1960-1980," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(4), pages 680-682.
    2. Finer, L. & Fine, J.B., 2013. "Abortion law around the world: Progress and pushback," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(4), pages 585-589.
    3. Daniel Kim & Adrianna Saada, 2013. "The Social Determinants of Infant Mortality and Birth Outcomes in Western Developed Nations: A Cross-Country Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-40, June.
    4. Xiaojia He & Luma Akil & Winfred G. Aker & Huey-Min Hwang & Hafiz A. Ahmad, 2015. "Trends in Infant Mortality in United States: A Brief Study of the Southeastern States from 2005–2009," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Flynn, James, 2024. "Contraceptive Access Creates Positive Selection in Infant Health," IZA Discussion Papers 17320, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Flynn, James, 2024. "Can Expanding Contraceptive Access Reduce Adverse Infant Health Outcomes?," IZA Discussion Papers 17146, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Whitney S. Rice & Katie Labgold & Quita Tinsley Peterson & Megan Higdon & Oriaku Njoku, 2021. "Sociodemographic and Service Use Characteristics of Abortion Fund Cases from Six States in the U.S. Southeast," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Juan Miguel Martínez-Galiano & Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez, 2021. "The Relegated Goal of Health Institutions: Sexual and Reproductive Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-4, February.

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