JOURNAL ARTICLE

Changes in Frequency and Health of Live Births Following State Abortion Bans.

  • Published In: American Journal of Public Health, 2026, v. 116, n. 3. P. 345 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Wallace, Maeve E.; Wang, Yin; Stoecker, Charles 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the impact of state abortion bans enacted after the June 2022 US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization on birth and preterm birth rates. Using difference-in-difference models comparing states with and without abortion bans, the study found a statistically significant increase in birth rates and preterm births among non-Hispanic Black women, particularly those covered by Medicaid, in states that implemented total abortion bans. These findings suggest that abortion restrictions may contribute to worsening racial inequities in reproductive health by forcing continuation of pregnancies that might otherwise have been terminated. The study acknowledges limitations including nonrandom policy implementation and reliance on administrative birth data lacking contextual details.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Journal of Public Health. 2026/03, Vol. 116, Issue 3, p345
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Health and Medicine
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0090-0036
  • DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2025.308355
  • Accession Number:191486671
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of American Journal of Public Health is the property of American Public Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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