Abortion advocates frequently attribute rising maternal mortality rates in the United States to pro-life laws, often blaming abortion restrictions as the primary or sole driver of worsening outcomes. They commonly claim that if we could just ensure unlimited access to abortion, fewer women would die from pregnancy complications. Putting aside the fact that unregulated abortion drugs by mail order put women at serious risk, this narrative overlooks a far more complex reality. Maternal mortality in the United States has been a persistent and multifaceted crisis for decades, one shaped by a wide range of medical, social, and systemic factors that cannot be reduced to a single policy variable.
The United States continues to experience higher maternal mortality rates than other high-income nations, with disparities driven by chronic disease, access to care, socioeconomic conditions, and systemic inequities. These underlying issues existed long before the Dobbs decision and continue to play a significant role in maternal health outcomes today, something the media and abortion advocates conveniently ignore.
AAPLOG Board Member and Vice President and Director of Medical Affairs for the Charlotte Lozier Institute, Dr. Ingrid Skop’s new paper “What Should We Expect in Maternal Mortality Trends Due to the Dobbs Decision?” offers a thoughtful and data-driven response to the widespread fearmongering surrounding abortion restrictions from pro-abortion media outlets, the abortion industry, and abortion “influencers.”
Rather than leaning into bias or relying on speculation, Dr. Skop evaluates maternal mortality trends through a broader scientific lens, highlighting the limitations of current data, the complexity of risk factors, and the importance of distinguishing correlation from causation.
Often overlooked are the inconsistencies in quality and/or interpretation of maternal mortality data. Researchers note that changes in reporting methods, including broadening definitions and revised surveillance tools, could continue to result in perceived increases in maternal mortality rates independent of actual clinical changes. Simplistic cause and effect claims don’t properly represent the actual evidence, often misleading the public.
Simplifying the issue to just one cause doesn’t account for the multitude of disparities in play when it comes to maternal mortality. Maternal mortality is shaped by a web of interconnected factors:
- Chronic health conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease
- Socioeconomic disparities including poverty and insurance gaps
- Unequal access to quality prenatal and postpartum care
- Mental health challenges and substance use disorders
- Geographic barriers such as rural hospital closures and maternity care deserts
These factors vary significantly between states and populations, making direct comparisons between “pro-life” and “pro-choice” states overly simplistic and potentially misleading.
Dr. Skop’s paper calls for a more careful, evidence-based approach, one that avoids politicized conclusions and instead focuses on addressing the root causes of maternal mortality. Improving maternal health outcomes will require targeted investments in healthcare access, chronic disease management, and equitable care delivery, rather than reducing a complex public health crisis to a single policy debate.
Read Dr. Skop’s crucial and timely analysis here.
