Consequences of Banning Abortion

Abortion is a controversial topic, and many different views exist. In this post, we will discuss the consequences of banning abortion by looking at women’s health, economic security for families, and state and local economies.

What is the Connection between Abortion Legalization and Women’s Advancement

Abortion is a basic right and medical procedure that can be performed as late as 12 weeks into a pregnancy. The fact that it’s legal makes it much easier for women to access abortion care than if it were illegal. However, even so, many barriers that prevent people from accessing this essential service—such as the cost of travel or financial instability—are often overlooked when we talk about making abortions more accessible for all individuals.

Harms to Women and Families’ Economic Security under Abortion Bans

When considering the consequences of banning abortion, it’s important to consider what those consequences could mean for women and families. There are many ways that a woman’s ability to access safe and legal abortion services can impact her economic security.

For example:

• Women who are denied access to abortion services may find themselves facing unemployment or underemployment. This means they face additional barriers when trying to find work or move up in their careers—which could jeopardize their ability to support themselves financially and provide for their families (if married).

Harms to State and Local Economies under Abortion Bans

Consequences of Banning Abortion

The biggest consequence of banning abortion is the increased costs for state and local governments and the federal government. The states that have passed laws forcing women to get abortions or face jail will incur more expenses to pay for those incarcerated or needing mental health services. 

Additionally, it is unlikely that these states will be able to recoup their money from these individuals because of low-income levels and high unemployment rates across America. This means that taxpayers must pick up those costs instead.

Additionally, many people cannot afford an abortion themselves but still want one; however, due to financial constraints, they do not have access until after pregnancy has already begun, which could lead them into bankruptcy if they continue this course. 

In addition, even if someone does manage, to somehow make ends meet. At the same time, pregnant, they may not be able to get their insurance cost reimbursed by Medicaid if they decide against having an abortion afterward because Medicaid only covers abortions performed within twelve weeks after conception occurs within its network.

Relatively Poor Reproductive and Maternal Health Outcomes

The World Health Organization has found that maternal mortality rates are higher in countries where abortion is not permitted. Women who have abortions are more likely to die from pregnancy complications, including hemorrhaging, sepsis, and blood transfusion.

There is also evidence that those who cannot access safe abortion services will be unable to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B and C, which can cause serious health issues if left untreated. In some cases, STIs can lead to cervical cancer and even death.

Counting the Cost of the Abortion Ban

We know that the abortion ban will cost society in many ways.

The cost of an abortion ban is not just financial, it is also the cost to women’s lives and their access to healthcare. It is important to note that we are talking about life here, not just health or well-being. 

Abortion laws do not protect everyone from unwanted pregnancies; they only protect some people by allowing them to terminate their pregnancies using medications such as RU486 (mifepristone). 

However, these medications are expensive and restrictive regarding how long they remain effective before needing re-administration or replacement with another medication if you cannot afford them or find someone willing to give them away freely. 

Other costs are associated with having an abortion: traveling long distances away from home; finding affordable accommodations during your stay; hiring an attorney who can help safeguard what you’re doing legally during this difficult process; etcetera.

What Is The Cost of Giving Birth?

• For one thing, the cost of giving birth is much higher than that of abortion.
• Second, if you have a child but don’t end up putting them up for adoption (which can be done at any time), that child will require some financial resources to survive. 
• Third, if you decide not to terminate your pregnancy and give birth instead—as many women do—you’ll be expected to care for your baby until they reach adulthood (about five years).
• Whether to have an abortion isn’t always easy; however, one thing cannot be denied: Every life matters.

What Is The Cost of Being Denied an Abortion?

The cost of being denied an abortion is high. It’s difficult to put a price tag on the mental health issues that can develop from being denied the right to terminate a pregnancy. Still, research suggests that it can affect up to 10% of women who undergo an abortion.

Abortion access is also linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety among women who have had one recently or are planning on having one in the future. Studies have shown that when there are no restrictions on access, women aren’t just “better off” with their abortions—they are happier overall.

Restricting Abortion Hurts the Economy

If you’re wondering why the economy is so important to this discussion, abortion bans affect women and children. For example:

• Women who face financial hardships due to their inability to get an abortion can’t afford necessities like food or shelter. This leads them into deeper debt and makes them less able to work.
• Children born into poverty are more likely than others in their community (and even other countries) to suffer from malnutrition, illness, and disease—which can seriously affect their physical and mental development.

The Political Risk to the Republican Party

The political risk for the Republican Party is also a huge threat to women’s health. Women are key to the democratically controlled Congress, representing over half of all voters. The party’s biggest voting bloc is women, who tend to vote more than men. If Republicans lose their female base, they will be unable to win elections—and abortion access will continue being restricted at all levels of government.

Roe V Wade: The Consequences

Roe v Wade was a 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United States. It resulted from a lawsuit filed by Norma McCorvey, who was known as Jane Roe in court documents.

Roe v Wade’s ruling held that states couldn’t interfere with women’s right to choose safe and legal abortion procedures. Still, it also laid out several conditions for establishing such laws: these laws should be written, so they don’t infringe on a woman’s right to choose an abortion; there must be no delay between when a fetus becomes viable (meaning it could live outside the mother’s womb) and when abortion is allowed; emergency contraception pills should be available without a prescription, so people don’t have to worry about getting them illegally.

Steps Forward For the Federal and State Governments

The government can take steps to ensure that abortion bans are not detrimental to women in their communities. For example, more research is needed on how many abortions are performed and how many people are denied access.

• More data must be collected about how many women die from unsafe abortions (for example, using ultrasound technology).
• Data should also be collected about the number of people who die due to pregnancy-related complications (including miscarriages) or complications caused by other medical treatments such as Cesarean sections.
• Finally, it is important for governments at all levels—federal, state, and local—to collect data on both these matters, so they can determine if there are any unintended consequences associated with their actions when banning abortion services.

Conclusion

The GOP has said that they want to ban abortion, and this would be detrimental to women’s health and well-being. However, it is also important to recognize that these bans will not help the women of America. 

Instead, they will only make things worse for them by denying them access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare services. The country must continue working towards making sure no one who needs an abortion faces any obstacles along the way—and we hope this report helps make an impact on that journey.

(Written By Dr. Ebad Khan) 

References 

Paltrow, L. M., Harris, L. H., & Marshall, M. F. (2022). Beyond Abortion: The Consequences of Overturning Roe. The American journal of bioethics : AJOB, 22(8), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2022.2075965

Oberman M. (2022). What will and won’t happen when abortion is banned. Journal of law and the biosciences, 9(1), lsac011. https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsac011

Nandi, A., Kalantry, S., & Citro, B. (2015). Sex-selective Abortion Bans are Not Associated with Changes in Sex Ratios at Birth among Asian Populations in Illinois and Pennsylvania. Forum for health economics & policy, 18(1), 41–64. https://doi.org/10.1515/fhep-2014-0018

Farmer C. (2019). Should Australia’s police-imposed public area banning powers be subject to independent oversight and review?. Drug and alcohol review, 38(6), 630–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12968

Ishola, F., Ukah, U. V., & Nandi, A. (2021). Impact of abortion law reforms on women’s health services and outcomes: a systematic review protocol. Systematic reviews, 10(1), 192. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01739-w