Black and Hispanic Women are Affected more by State Bands on Abortion

A new study analyzing birth data from 2023 found that state abortion bans significantly impacted certain groups of women, particularly Hispanic and Black women, those without college degrees, and those living far from clinics. The study, conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, measured how birth rates changed after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

For women in states with bans, the average distance to a clinic increased from 50 to 300 miles, leading to a 2.8% rise in births. Hispanic women living 300 miles from a clinic saw a 3.8% increase in births, compared to 3.2% for Black women and 2% for white women.

The study confirms that women who are poorer, younger, and have less education are more likely to experience unintended pregnancies and struggle to access abortion care, said Dr. Alison Norris, an epidemiology professor at Ohio State.

Despite abortion bans, the overall number of abortions has increased since the study period due to telemedicine and financial assistance. However, the findings show that not all women benefited equally from these resources.

The increase in births suggests that some women were unable to obtain abortions they would have otherwise sought if the procedure remained legal. Researchers argue that the national rise in abortions masks disparities in access, with some women “trapped by bans.”

Texas Right to Life president John Seago said the study proves bans are effective in reducing abortions. He argued that a national ban would be more effective than the current patchwork of state laws.

The study found that abortion bans had a more significant effect in regions where travel options were limited. In Texas, for example, birth rates rose more in Houston, where the nearest clinic is 600 miles away, than in El Paso, where a clinic is just 20 miles away in New Mexico.

Similarly, the impact was greater in Southern states surrounded by others with bans, whereas Eastern Missouri, which borders Illinois where abortion is legal, saw minimal change.

The researchers also examined clinic appointment availability. In areas where wait times exceeded two weeks, birth rates increased even more, suggesting that barriers to care extended beyond travel distance.

Even in states with bans where the distance to clinics remained unchanged, births rose slightly. Professor Caitlin Myers attributed this to a “chilling effect,” where legal restrictions deterred women from seeking abortions even if options technically remained.

Past studies using state-level data found similar trends. Births increased 1.7% on average, with higher rates among Black and Hispanic women, those without college degrees, and Medicaid recipients.

Although nationwide abortions continued rising in 2024 due to shield laws protecting doctors who mail abortion pills to banned states, provisional birth data suggests some women still lack access. This includes those with fewer resources or concerns about ordering pills online.