Jaime Monzon
Women march for abortion rights in San Antonio following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The analysis published in the peer-reviewed JAMA Pediatrics medical journal compared infant deaths in Texas to those in 28 other states — some with abortion restrictions of their own — the year following the implementation of Senate Bill 8.
Also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, SB 8 banned abortions in the Lone Star State after a fetus' heartbeat could be detected. This usually occurs five to six weeks after conception — a time before many people are aware that they're pregnant.
Researchers found that in 2022, infant deaths in Texas jumped by 13%, while infant deaths nationally only increased by about 2%. What's more, babies who died in Texas due to birth defects jumped by 23% following the passing of SB 8.
It's worth noting that the earliest time a fetus can be tested for a deadly congenital disability is around 10 to 12 weeks, or well after the limitations imposed by the Heartbeat Act, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The infant mortality rate in Texas may have only worsened since the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade two years ago.
Under current Texas law, pregnant people can only obtain abortions if, "in the exercise of reasonable medical judgment," a doctor believes the patient is at risk of death or "substantial impairment of a major bodily function."
Otherwise, the punishment for someone found guilty of performing an abortion in Texas is life in prison.
The Texas Tribune reported this week that a monthly average of five women received abortions in Texas since passage of the law, a 200% monthly decline since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed
