THE right to end a pregnancy has been protected in the US for nearly 50 years. In a matter of weeks, that may change. The country’s highest court is poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision. This would be disastrous for public health and equality more broadly.
The US already has the , with . In the UK, it is .
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Given the significant health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, forcing more people to carry unwanted pregnancies and give birth means forcing them to face those dangers. Those who seek and are denied abortions also compared with those who are able to obtain one.
Things are particularly worrying when you look at existing outcomes for US minority groups, especially Black women, whose maternal mortality rate is .
, affecting , such as intrauterine devices or implants, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy. Black women make up 28 per cent of those seeking abortions in the US each year, despite being just 14 per cent of the nation’s female population.
If abortion is restricted or banned in more than half of US states, only those with the means to travel to a place where it is legal will be able to have the procedure done safely without fear of prosecution. Abortion is one of the safest gynaecological procedures, but when performed in unsanitary conditions or by untrained providers, it can be deadly.
The consequences for disadvantaged groups will be severe, and it may only be the beginning. Millions of people will lose the option to have an abortion in their home state if Roe v Wade is overturned. Some conservative lawmakers have already made noises about restricting access to forms of contraception, including IUDs and the morning after pill.
The end of the protections under Roe v Wade could start the unravelling of many hard-fought rights.
