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Texas’ abortion laws are killing Texan mothers. And Black mothers, already in forced to stand in the bulls-eye, have it worse than any other group of moms in the state.
That’s the finding from a recent report by the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI), and an earlier one from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Maternal deaths have risen 56% in the state, which means that mothers in Texas who are dying at a rate of 28.5 per 100,000 live births. And that means the rate of death of Texas moms is fully six points higher than the national average of 22.3. Those numbers were predictable.
When Texas implemented its abortion ban in September 2021, it was the most stringent in the nation, kicking in at the very moment a fetal heartbeat could be detected, which is typically during week five or six. It’s virtually impossible for women to know they are even pregnant before the four weeks, and rarely do women know until after six weeks. The complications of those sorts of laws have been highlighted most recently by the tragic–and absolutely preventable–death of Georgia mom, Amber Thurman.
To make the maternal mortality rate in Texas even more horrifying, the report compared that 56% surge between 2019 to 2022 with the increase nationally: across the U.S. the rise was averaged at 11%. When that 56% in Texas is disaggregated by race, we see that it’s Black mother’s deaths that are driving the terrible outcome. Black mom’s deaths rose by a breath-stealing 38%! In Texas, the percentage of all Black people is just below 12.
The alarmingly high maternal mortality rates among Black women have persisted and even doubled over the past two decades due to various factors. Historically, Black women have faced disproportionately elevated rates of pregnancy complications, such as hypertension, preeclampsia, hemorrhaging, and maternal sepsis.
Barriers such as inadequate medical resources, high healthcare costs, and systemic racism have further complicated the situation, leaving many new mothers struggling for healthy pregnancies. Additionally, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than their white counterparts, underscoring the importance of access to abortion and medications like Mifepristone. These resources are critical for safeguarding their health and well-being.
This news is being reported at a time when abortion and women’s right to sovereignty over their own bodies is one of the biggest concerns for voters this election cycle. Consider that voters in 10 states will have the opportunity to secure abortion rights in several states–including states where access is either severely restricted or banned outright. Florida, Arizona, Colorado and Maryland. South Dakota and Missouri are but a few. Texas is not one of those included.
Even still, there are lawmakers pushing for more curb on reproductive rights, regarding not only abortions but even contraception access. Except for Florida, states with existing abortion bans have not put measures in place to protect access to contraception, such as birth control. In states that either ban or heavily restrict abortion, there are significant gaps in state-level protections for contraceptive methods, leaving them vulnerable to future restrictions.
Moreover, several states have prohibited the mail delivery of abortion-inducing medications like Mifepristone and require in-person doctor visits to obtain a prescription. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization focused on advocating for abortion access, medication abortions accounted for 63% of all abortions in the U.S. in 2023.
The consequences of these bans are profound, with 41% of surveyed individuals expressing concerns about their own risk of death if they were to become pregnant. Approximately 36% have contemplated the potential for arrest related to pregnancy-related issues.
Additionally, there are troubling efforts to prevent pregnant women from leaving states with restrictive abortion laws to seek care where it is legal. According to LA Times, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently filed a lawsuit against the city of Austin to block its allocation of $400,000 in public funds to help residents travel out of state for abortions. City officials have condemned Paxton’s lawsuit.
This situation could put more women at risk, depriving them not only of their rights to control their own bodies and make autonomous choices, but of their very lives. What does this say about a nation that prides itself on independence? If lawmakers fail to reconsider their strict policies, we may witness more senseless and preventable deaths–especially among pregnant Black mothers.
SEE ALSO:
Comparing Kamala Harris, Donald Trump And Their ‘Starkly Different Track Records’ On Abortion
Seven Ways Racism Harms Pregnant Black Women
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