The pregnancy-related mortality impact of a total abortion ban in the United States: a research note on increased deaths due to remaining pregnant

AJ Stevenson - Demography, 2021 - read.dukeupress.edu
Demography, 2021read.dukeupress.edu
In this research note, I estimate one component of the mortality impact of denying all wanted
induced abortions in the United States. This estimate quantifies the magnitude of an
increase in pregnancy-related deaths that would occur solely because of the greater
mortality risk of continuing a pregnancy rather than having a legal induced abortion. Using
published statistics on pregnancy-related mortality ratios, births, and abortions, I estimate US
pregnancy-related deaths by race and ethnicity before and in the first and subsequent years …
Abstract
In this research note, I estimate one component of the mortality impact of denying all wanted induced abortions in the United States. This estimate quantifies the magnitude of an increase in pregnancy-related deaths that would occur solely because of the greater mortality risk of continuing a pregnancy rather than having a legal induced abortion. Using published statistics on pregnancy-related mortality ratios, births, and abortions, I estimate U.S. pregnancy-related deaths by race and ethnicity before and in the first and subsequent years of a hypothetical total abortion ban. The number of estimated deaths following a total abortion ban is determined by assuming three conditions: that all wanted induced abortions are denied, that each abortion denied leads to 0.8 births, and that there is a corresponding increase in exposure to pregnancy-related mortality. I find that in the first year of such a ban, estimated pregnancy-related deaths would increase from 675 to 724 (49 additional deaths, representing a 7% increase), and in subsequent years to 815 (140 additional deaths, for a 21% increase). Non-Hispanic Black people would experience the greatest increase in deaths (a 33% increase in subsequent years). Estimated pregnancy-related deaths would increase for all races and ethnicities examined. Overall, denying all wanted induced abortions in the United States would increase pregnancy-related mortality substantially, even if the rate of unsafe abortion did not increase.
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