Abortion kills babies in the womb.
But it might also be affecting ones that are born.
A recent study about infant mortality reveals that the murderous reach of abortion might extend farther than we realize.
New reports reveal that the U.S. infant mortality rate saw a three percent increase from 2021 to 2022, which is cause for alarm.
The rise, documented in a recent study by the National Center for Health Statistics, highlighted a troubling reality: the existence of “maternity care deserts” across the nation.
These deserts, areas devoid of adequate maternal healthcare facilities, have emerged as a significant contributing factor to the escalating infant mortality rate.
The study indicated that there were 5.60 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022 compared to 5.44 deaths in 2021, with a total of 20,538 infant deaths in 2022, up from 19,928 in the previous year.
Newborn deaths increased by three percent, while postneonatal deaths (occurring 28 days or longer since birth) rose by four percent.
Shockingly, deaths linked to maternal complications and bacterial sepsis surged by 8% and 14%, respectively.
Experts like Dr. Sandy Chung, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed deep concern, emphasizing that any child’s death was one too many.
They identified geographical disparities, termed “maternity care deserts,” as a leading cause of the crisis.
These deserts, existing in both pro-life and abortion-friendly states, primarily affect rural areas where obstetric providers are scarce, with only seven percent serving these regions.
Several factors, including shifts in local populations, declining birth rates, and the financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to closures of labor and delivery units in these areas.
Additionally, the excessive and biased funding often given to abortion clinics leaves care centers that support pregnant mothers and new babies lacking.
Pro-life states like South Carolina faced significant challenges, with over 60% of labor and delivery unit closures occurring in rural, low-volume birthing centers.
Amidst this crisis, pro-abortion advocates have shifted their focus towards increasing abortion access, diverting attention and resources away from essential maternal healthcare.
The Biden administration, along with major corporations such as Disney, Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu, has actively promoted abortion access, raising concerns among pro-life communities about how the needs of mothers who DO want to keep their babies will be met.
This push for abortion access fails to address the critical issue at hand: the lack of proper maternal healthcare in maternity care deserts.
Abortion is not a solution to the escalating infant mortality rate; rather, it exacerbates the problem by neglecting the urgent need for accessible maternity care.
Pro-life advocates argue that efforts should be redirected towards ensuring all pregnant women and their babies have access to genuine maternity care.
As Dr. Edward Kavle, a pediatrician, rightly pointed out, when a woman needs to give birth, every minute counts.
The crisis of maternity care deserts calls for immediate attention and action, urging policymakers and healthcare providers to prioritize the well-being of both mothers and infants.
For pro-life Americans, this crisis underscores the importance of advocating for genuine maternal healthcare solutions, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for the nation’s newborns.
Pro-Life Press will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
