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.

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.

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.

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.