Abortion bans affect Black, Hispanic women more than others

What you probably already know: In the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, 50 abortion restrictions — including near-total bans — were signed into law across multiple states. One hundred days after the landmark ruling, nearly 22 million women of reproductive age were living in states where abortions were no longer available to them or severely restricted. A new study analyzing birth data from the following year reveals the groups of women who were most impacted: Black and Hispanic women, women without a college degree, unmarried women, and, logically, those living farthest from a clinic.

Why? Abortion bans in general led to an overall uptick in births in 2023, and the distance to an abortion facility was a major driver in which communities were most affected. Counties where the nearest clinic went from being 50 miles away to 300 miles away experienced a 2.8% increase in births for the average woman after a total ban went into effect, according to the study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The geographic barrier impacted specific populations more than others, with births increasing by 3.8% among Hispanic women, 3.2% among Black women, and 2% among white women. In counties in states with bans where the distance to a clinic (and appointment availability) in another state didn’t change, a total ban still resulted in a 1% increase in births. Researchers say this could be caused by legal uncertainty, misinformation, or logistical hurdles.

What it means: Researchers conclude that the distance to a legal clinic continues to play “a persistent role” in access to services. The study also backs up other research pointing to the disproportionate impacts of abortion bans on some groups. Ultimately, state bans appear to have prevented some women from getting abortions they otherwise would have sought. “What’s happened is an increase in inequality of access: Access is increasing for some people and not for others,” Caitlin Myers, a professor of economics at Middlebury College and co-author of the paper, told The New York Times.

What happens now? Nineteen states have banned or limited access to abortion. Ten states voted on abortion measures in the November 2024 election, with voters in seven of those states passing ballot initiatives that expand or protect abortion access. Arizona and Missouri reversed their abortion bans, but proposed measures failed in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Still, the prevalence of telehealth, mail-order abortion pills, and financial assistance has led to an overall increase in abortions since 2022, even in states with total bans — hinting at unmet demand for abortions even before constitutional protections were terminated.