Abortion Policies Linked to Infant Health Outcomes

Several state abortion policies were associated with differences in infant health outcomes in a retrospective national cohort study published in JAMA Network Open. The findings describe associations and do not establish that the policies caused the outcomes.

Investigators analyzed 64,789,079 singleton births conceived from 2005 through 2021 and born through 2022. The analysis assessed low birth weight, preterm birth, low Apgar score, infant death, and prenatal-care measures in relation to 11 abortion policy variables.

Physician-only provision requirements were associated with increased odds of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05) and preterm birth (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07). Six-week fetal-heartbeat bans were associated with increased odds of preterm birth (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07).

Twenty-week fetal-pain bans were associated with increased odds of a low Apgar score (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.38). Other policy-outcome associations varied in direction, including small decreases in low birth weight linked to waiting periods and medication-abortion in-person requirements.

The authors noted that the analysis does not generalize to the post-Dobbs policy landscape and did not account for policy changes during pregnancy. Strengths included rigorous policy surveillance, consideration of multiple policies, sensitivity analyses, and use of individual-level data to allow inclusion of individual-level covariates and more precise exposure timing. Specific policy-outcome associations varied when other abortion policies were included in the models.

Source: Roberts SCM, Zaugg C, Ralph L. State-level abortion policies and infant health outcomes. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(9):e2630990. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.30990