Abortion bans in the United States are exacerbating existing health disparities as births increase in high-risk populations and infant mortality rises disproportionately, new research suggests.

A new study looked at the cases of infant death in states where abortion bans were adopted — and found there’s a sharp spike.

Infant mortality rates have increased in US states which have enacted abortion bans, a study has found. Researchers estimate there were 478 infant deaths across 14 states which have outright bans or heavy restrictions - which they say would not have occurred had the laws not been in place.

In the first 18 months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, most states with abortion bans saw a rise in infant deaths, new research reveals.

Researchers estimate that recent abortion bans have driven a rise in infant death rates in affected states, especially among Black children and kids with congenital anomalies.