Study Links Sex-Selective Abortion Bans to Negative Birth Outcomes in Asian Immigrant Women
A Yale study reveals that sex-selective abortion bans in certain U.S. states negatively impact maternal and infant health among Asian immigrant women, without affecting birth sex ratios, highlighting the need for nuanced policy approaches.
Recent research conducted by Yale sociologist Emma Zang indicates that laws banning sex-selective abortions (SSABs)—which prohibit seeking abortions based on the fetus's sex—may have unintended harmful effects on maternal and infant health, particularly among Asian immigrant populations in the United States. These bans, currently enacted in 14 states, have been shown to increase the incidence of low birth weight and preterm births among infants born to Asian immigrant mothers. The study found that in states with SSABs, the likelihood of newborns weighing less than 5 pounds 8 ounces rose by 0.3 percentage points, and preterm births before 37 weeks increased by 0.5 percentage points. This equates to over 2,900 additional at-risk infants among Asian immigrant mothers in just six states examined.
Interestingly, the research also revealed that these bans do not influence the sex ratios at birth, undermining rationale arguments that such laws target or reduce sex-selective practices. Critics argue that proponents often deploy xenophobic stereotypes about Asian cultures prioritizing male children, which these laws inadvertently reinforce.
The findings further suggest that these restrictive policies create a hostile social environment, contributing to stress responses such as fluctuations in blood pressure and inflammation among pregnant women, which can adversely affect fetal development. The study emphasizes that such laws may stigmatize Asian immigrant communities rather than address the actual prevalence of sex-selective cessation behaviors, which do not appear to be widespread in the U.S.
Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, this second-of-its-kind study analyzed birth data from over 12 million cases spanning from 2005 to 2019. The research highlights the importance of nuanced policy discussions around abortion, immigration, and social stigmatization, urging lawmakers to understand the broader health implications of such restrictive laws.
Source: [https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-sex-abortion-maternal-infant-health.html]
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