New Research: Texas Abortion Restrictions Result in 26K+ Rape-Related Pregnancies Case Finds!
CNS News–A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has cast a spotlight on a deeply troubling consequence of Texas’ stringent abortion laws. Since the state outlawed all abortions, including in cases of rape or incest, an estimated 26,313 rape-related pregnancies have occurred over a 16-month period.
This staggering number is the highest among the 14 states with total abortion bans. Dr. Kari White of Texas-based Resound Research for Reproductive Health, one of the authors of the study, emphasizes the magnitude of the state’s laws, particularly for those unable to access abortion pills or travel out of state for abortion care.
In a broader context, the June 2022 Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade catalyzed this surge in pregnancies resulting from rape. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and The University of California, San Francisco, who also contributed to the study, utilized various sources, including survey and crime report data, to estimate the number of girls and women aged 15-45 who had survived rape that could result in pregnancy.
More than 26K rape-related pregnancies estimated after Texas outlawed abortions, new study says https://t.co/Gb4t5XUbW0 via @houstonchron
— Jeremy Wallace (@JeremySWallace) January 24, 2024
Read More News: Governor Abbott Makes a Statement About the Right to Self-Defense in Texas’ Constitution!
Joe Biden Requested to Take Control Over Texas National Guard from Greg Abbott!
Texas Governor Opposes Supreme Court Decision, Builds up Border with Razor Wire!
The study reveals that in the five states with rape exceptions to their abortion bans, stringent gestational limits and mandatory reporting to law enforcement create significant barriers, often making it nearly impossible for survivors to qualify for an abortion. This is evidenced by the fact that there were 10 or fewer legal abortions per month in these states, indicating a severe gap between policy and the practical availability of care for rape survivors.
Dr. Samuel Dickman, the study’s lead author, criticizes the so-called political cover provided by abortion exceptions, which in reality, do very little to help pregnant survivors access the care they need. He advocates for the rights of rape survivors to make informed, personal decisions about their pregnancies, something state-level abortion bans, even those with exceptions, severely restrict.
The study not only highlights Texas as the state with the highest number of rape-related pregnancies post-abortion ban but also sheds light on the wider issue of sexual assault and reproductive coercion in relationships. It underscores the complex challenges faced by survivors, especially when intimate partner and family violence are involved, further complicating their ability to travel out of state for abortion services.
