Research Reveals Nearly 7 Million Black Women Lack Adequate Abortion Access

Activists advocating for abortion rights march from Centennial Olympic Park to the Georgia Capitol during a demonstration in Atlanta on May 3, 2022. (Photo: Curtis Compton / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

May 22, 2024 Story by: Editor

A recent report indicates that over 50% of Black girls and women of reproductive age reside in states where abortion access is severely limited or nonexistent.

The study, conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda , highlights that nearly 7 million Black women aged 15-49 live in the 26 states that have either implemented or are poised to enact abortion bans.

This surge in abortion restrictions follows the 2022 Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision safeguarding abortion rights.

Currently, fourteen states have enacted outright bans on abortion, while others have imposed stringent limitations on the procedure, which, according to the report, disproportionately impact millions of individuals, jeopardizing their economic stability.

Among the findings, the study reveals that 2.7 million Black women residing in these states face economic insecurity, with 1.4 million working in service-sector jobs, often lacking essential resources such as paid sick leave, flexible work arrangements, and financial means to access abortion services in states where it remains legal.

Moreover, over 58% of these women are already mothers, with a significant proportion expressing concerns about their reproductive futures following the erosion of abortion rights. Worries include fears of arrest related to pregnancy, miscarriage, or abortion care, as well as apprehensions about maternal mortality risks, a pressing issue within the Black community, where maternal mortality rates remain alarmingly high despite being largely preventable.

The report underscores that abortion bans exacerbate maternal mortality rates, particularly among minority women, by contributing to the closure of maternity wards in hospitals, creating widespread maternity care deserts. Additionally, healthcare providers are departing from states with abortion restrictions, exacerbating the shortage of essential services and compromising care quality, especially for individuals facing pregnancy complications or emergencies.

Alarmingly, the report highlights that 17 of the 26 states with abortion bans or imminent bans also exhibit above-average maternal mortality rates, further exacerbating healthcare disparities for Black women.

For instance, 8% of Black women of reproductive age reside in Georgia, where a six-week abortion ban is in effect, coinciding with one of the nation's highest maternal mortality rates. Similarly, approximately 9% of Black women in reproductive age inhabit Texas, notorious for its stringent abortion laws and where Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than any other minority group. Source: THE HILL

Meanwhile, 8% of Black women of reproductive age reside in Florida, which has implemented near-total abortion bans after six weeks of pregnancy, with Black women facing two to three times higher risks of pregnancy-related mortality compared to white counterparts. In response, advocacy groups are urging policymakers to align with the Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda , emphasizing the urgency of bolstering access to abortion, dignified pregnancy and childbirth, equitable healthcare, and comprehensive support systems necessary for Black individuals and families to thrive.