Between 2021 and 2022, Texas saw a 12.9% increase in infant deaths or an additional 534 deaths compared to the rest of the US
Infant mortality rates rose by 8.3% in Texas while they decreased by 2.2% in the rest of the US
New study published in JAMA Pediatrics links surge in Texas infant deaths to strict abortion ban
Texas enacted strict abortion ban, Senate Bill 8, in 2021 which prohibited abortions after fetal heartbeat detection and did not include exceptions for health issues
Texas had higher incidences of infant deaths due to unintentional injuries and necrotizing enterocolitis
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics has linked the surge in infant deaths in Texas following the implementation of a strict abortion ban to the policy. The study, which analyzed monthly death certificate data from 2021 to 2022, found that between these two years, infant deaths increased by 12.9% or 534 more deaths than the rest of the US.
The researchers noted that Texas had significantly higher incidences of infant deaths attributed to unintentional injuries and necrotizing enterocolitis compared with the rest of the country. Infant mortality rates also rose by 8.3% in Texas, while they decreased by 2.2% in the rest of the US.
The study's findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that infants born in states with restrictive abortion policies are more likely to die before their first birthday.
Texas enacted its strict abortion ban, Senate Bill 8, in 2021. The law prohibited abortions after a fetal heartbeat could be detected and did not include exceptions for birth defects or other health issues.
The study's authors emphasized that their findings are relevant as other states have enacted similar strict abortion bans since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, compelling women to carry pregnancies to term or overcome significant hurdles to obtain abortion care out of state.
The researchers called for further investigation into the potential unintended consequences of restrictive abortion policies on infant health and the associated trauma and costs for families.
Could there be any errors or inconsistencies in the death certificate data used for the study?
Is there any possibility that other factors, such as changes in healthcare access or socioeconomic conditions, could have influenced the increase in infant deaths in Texas?
Texas lawmakers passed a heartbeat law in September 2021 aimed at saving lives.
Infant deaths increased by 12.9% in Texas compared to a less than 2% increase nationally during the same period.
Mothers are legally obligated to carry babies with birth defects or genetic problems under state law, even if they would have terminated such pregnancies through abortion previously.
Accuracy
Infant deaths increased by 12.9% in Texas compared to a less than 2% increase nationally.
Deaths attributable to congenital anomalies or birth defects spiked nearly 23% in Texas compared to a 3% decrease nationally.
Deception
(30%)
The article makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation by describing the deaths of infants as 'devastating consequences' and 'spillover effects on moms and babies'. The author also selectively reports information by focusing only on the increase in infant deaths after the Texas heartbeat law was enacted, without mentioning that overall infant mortality rates decreased nationally during the same period. Additionally, the article references a peer-reviewed study without explicitly stating that it is peer-reviewed.
Abortion care is an essential component of comprehensive healthcare, and when it is restricted, the human impacts are devastating.
It just points to some of the devastating consequences of abortion bans that maybe people weren’t thinking about when they passed these laws.
The findings in JAMA Pediatrics show that infant deaths rose after Texas’ Senate Bill 8, which banned all abortion after about six weeks from conception.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes Alison Gemmill stating that the deaths following the Texas heartbeat law are its 'spillover effects on moms and babies.' This statement is not a logical conclusion from the data presented in the study, but rather an interpretation by Gemmill. Additionally, there is inflammatory rhetoric used throughout the article when it refers to abortion bans as 'devastating consequences' and 'choosing to kill that child intentionally.' These statements are emotionally charged and do not contribute to a logical analysis of the situation.
][Alison Gemmill] The findings in JAMA Pediatrics show that infant deaths rose after Texas’ Senate Bill 8, which banned all abortion after about six weeks from conception. She called the deaths following the Texas heartbeat law its ‘spillover effects on moms and babies.’[[/](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/06/24/texas-anti-abortion-heartbeat-law-infant-deaths-study/74168707007/)
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses a study that found an increase in infant deaths after Texas implemented its near-total ban on abortion. The author does not express any personal opinions or beliefs about the topic, and no direct quotes from anyone other than the author are provided. The analysis rules do not consider statements made by anyone other than www.usatoday.com, so while the article discusses a study and its findings, it does not include any explicit examples of bias in reporting on those findings.
In the wake of the law's passage in Texas, more babies died before their first birthday, likely due to birth defects or genetic problems that wouldn't have allowed them to live, the study found. These pregnancies would typically have been terminated by abortion, according to researchers.
Texas lawmakers touted their heartbeat law as a crusade to save lives, but the reality of the state's near-total ban on abortion has been deadly. Hundreds of babies died after the law went into effect, according to a new study published Monday.
The Texas heartbeat law does not provide exceptions for pregnancies involving such conditions. Mothers are legally obligated to carry these babies to birth under state law.
In September 2021, Texas banned nearly all abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy.
Between 2021 and 2022, infant deaths in Texas surged 12.9% compared with a much smaller increase of 1.8% in the rest of the US.
Infant mortality rates rose 8.3% in Texas compared with an increase of 2.2% in the rest of the nation.
The neonatal mortality rate also increased in Texas by 5.8% but decreased in the rest of the US.
Accuracy
Infant deaths increased by 12.9% in Texas compared to a less than 2% increase nationally during the same period.
Between 2021 and 2022, the number of infant deaths in Texas increased by 13% or more compared to a smaller increase elsewhere.
Infant deaths attributable to congenital anomalies, or birth defects, rose by 23% or more in Texas compared with a decrease elsewhere.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The authors of the study explicitly state that their findings echo those of a CNN report from last year, implying potential bias towards anti-abortion restrictions. The article also includes quotes from medical experts criticizing the Texas law and expressing anticipation for future research on resistance to abortion bans.
Ghazaleh Moayedi and Aketch Osamba, both of the Pegasus Health Justice Center in Dallas, and Atsuko Koyama, of the University of Arizona, in the editorial wrote 'In the coming years, as more people continue to be harmed by abortion bans across the country, we anticipate that more research will illuminate what Texans already know to be true: abortion bans harm everyone.'
The authors say their study is the first attempt to do so, and their conclusions echo the findings of CNN’s story.
In 2021, Texas enacted a strict abortion ban with no exceptions for birth defects.
Between 2021 and 2022, the number of infant deaths in Texas increased by 12.9% or 534 more deaths than the rest of the US.
Texas had significantly higher incidence of infant deaths attributed to unintentional injuries and necrotizing enterocolitis compared with the rest of the US.
Accuracy
Between 2021 and 2022, the number of infant deaths in Texas increased by 12.9% or more.
Infant deaths attributed to congenital anomalies, or birth defects, rose by 23% or more in Texas compared with a decrease elsewhere.
In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Texas Heartbeat Act, banning all abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Between 2021 and 2022, infant deaths in Texas increased by 12.9% compared to a 1.8% increase in the rest of the US.
Infant deaths attributable to congenital abnormalities increased by 22.9% in Texas compared with a decrease of 3.1% in the rest of the US.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The author makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation by implying that the Texas Heartbeat Act is responsible for an 'unexpected' increase in infant mortality without providing concrete evidence. The author also selectively reports details, focusing only on the increase in infant deaths in Texas while ignoring the decrease in infant deaths from congenital abnormalities in other states.
An abortion ban in Texas may have resulted in an 'unexpected' increase in infant mortality, according to new research.
These findings are concerning not only for infant mortality but also for the mental health of the parents.
The study analyzed 94,720 recorded infant deaths in Texas and 28 comparison states between 2021 and 2022. After accounting for absolute increases in birth rates, it found that the Texas Heartbeat Act was associated with an 'unexpected' increase in infant mortality.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an association between the Texas Heartbeat Act and an increase in infant mortality. However, she does not provide any direct evidence that the law directly caused the increase in infant deaths. Instead, she relies on observational data and hypotheses from scientists. This is a form of informal fallacy called 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' or 'after this, therefore because of this'. The author also makes an appeal to authority by citing the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study without providing any context about the researchers or their qualifications. Lastly, there are dichotomous depictions in the article where the author presents the Texas Heartbeat Act as a sole cause for increased infant mortality and ignores other potential factors such as socioeconomic stresses and lack of access to healthcare.
]The study analyzed 94,720 recorded infant deaths in Texas and 28 comparison states between 2021 and 2022. After accounting for absolute increases in birth rates, it found that the Texas Heartbeat Act was associated with an ‘unexpected’ increase in infant mortality.[
The researchers said there may also be societal factors behind these increases, including the increased socioeconomic and mental stresses associated with an unplanned pregnancy.
These findings are concerning not only for infant mortality but also for the mental health of the parents.
Bias
(95%)
The author makes no overtly biased statements in the article. However, there is a clear ideological bias towards pro-choice views as evidenced by the focus on the negative consequences of Texas' abortion ban and the lack of mention or consideration of potential positive outcomes or perspectives from those who support the ban. The author also uses language that depicts those involved in enforcing or supporting the law as 'citizens' and 'potentially preventable increases in infant mortality', implying a negative connotation towards them. Additionally, there is a disproportionate number of quotations that reflect the pro-choice perspective.
An abortion ban in Texas may have resulted in an unexpected increase in infant mortality, according to new research.
Indeed, the study found that in 2022 infant deaths attributable to congenital abnormalities increased in Texas by 22.9 percent, compared with the rest of the US, where deaths from these conditions decreased by 3.1 percent.
These findings are concerning not only for infant mortality but also for the mental health of the parents.
The study analyzed 94,720 recorded infant deaths in Texas and 28 comparison states between 2021 and 2022.
Since Texas’ ban on abortion went into effect, infant deaths in the state increased by nearly 13% compared to less than 2% increase in the rest of the country.
Infant deaths caused by congenital abnormalities increased by 22.9% in Texas compared to a decrease of 2.9% in the rest of the country.
Maternal complications of pregnancy related infant deaths increased by 18.2% in Texas compared to 7.8% increase in the rest of the country.
Infant deaths caused by unintentional injuries increased by 20.7% in Texas compared to a 1.1% increase elsewhere in the US.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(0%)
The author makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation in this article. She states that 'carrying that fetus to term when you could have had the option to terminate is going to just add that additional trauma and heartbreak to the situation.' This statement is not a fact, but rather an opinion of the author. She also implies that restricting abortion causes unnecessary infant deaths, which is a subjective interpretation of the data presented in the article.
What we know from the literature is that any infant death is a traumatic event to experience.
The findings show the huge impact that a restriction on abortion can have, even starting from low levels of access.
The most effective way to prevent these unnecessary infant deaths is clearly to not restrict abortion.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting experts in the field and stating their opinions on the study's findings. However, this does not constitute a logical fallacy as it is a valid way to support arguments with credible sources. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the Texas abortion ban as 'one of the most restrictive in the country' and 'extremely difficult life circumstances' for babies born with congenital abnormalities. This does not affect the validity of the study but can be seen as emotionally charged language.
][The researchers] found that in 2022, 2,240 infants under the age of 1 died in Texas, more than half of whom died before 28 days of life.[/]
[Among the causes of infant deaths, one increased the most: congenital abnormalities, which increased 22.9% in Texas in children between 2021 and 2022, while they decreased 2.9% in the rest of the country.]
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses a clear bias towards the anti-abortion law in Texas and implies that it is responsible for an increase in infant deaths. She quotes experts who agree with this assessment and presents data that appears to support their claims. However, she does not provide any counterarguments or perspectives from those who might disagree with her position.
Among the causes of infant deaths, one increased the most: congenital abnormalities, which increased 22.9% in Texas in children between 2021 and 2022
Since Texas’ ban on abortion went into effect, infant deaths in the state increased by nearly 13%
The researchers found that in 2022, 2,240 infants under the age of 1 died in Texas, more than half of whom died before 28 days of life. In 2021, there were 1,985 infant deaths
