Infant mortality increased 7% over last 18 months: Study

Infant mortality increased 7% over the last 18 months, which included abortion limits enacted in some U.S. states, according to a new study.

The Supreme Court Dobbs decision about a year-and-a-half ago eliminated the federal right to an abortion, allowing each state to handle the issue.

The new study was authored by Dr. Parvati Singh, an assistant professor of epidemiology with The Ohio State University College of Public Health and Dr. Maria Gallo, a professor of epidemiology and associate dean of research with the Ohio State University College of Public Health.

A majority of the infants that died had birth defects, the research showed.

The researchers compared infant mortality rates for the time period since the Supreme Court decision to historical data and found that hundreds more infants have died than anticipated.

“This is evidence of a national ripple effect, regardless of state-level status,” said Singh, according to CNN.

"The increase appeared pronounced among infants with congenital anomalies, potentially owing to frail fetuses more often being carried to term following the implementation of abortion restrictions. We examined whether national monthly trends in infant mortality exhibit similar patterns following the US Supreme Court decision Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion," the study summary read.