More than 64,000 women and girls were impregnated as a result of rape in states that implemented abortion bans after the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned. This shocking statistic comes from a recent estimate published by JAMA Internal Medicine, led by the medical director at Planned Parenthood of Montana. The research reveals that approximately 520,000 acts of rape led to 64,565 pregnancies across 14 states, the majority of which did not allow for terminations in cases of rape.
States with the Highest Incidences
According to the study, Texas had the highest number of pregnancies resulting from rape, accounting for about 45% of the cases. Remarkably, 91% of these pregnancies occurred in states without exceptions for rape, exposing the failure of rape exceptions to provide adequate access to abortions for survivors.
The researchers based their estimates on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, painting a distressing picture of the prevalence of rape in the United States.
A Sobering Reality
Dr. Kari White, one of the authors of the research, commented on the alarmingly high numbers, emphasizing how they reflect the widespread occurrence of rape in the country. Sexual violence affects millions of people in the United States each year, with over half of women and nearly one in three men experiencing sexual violence involving physical contact at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Impeding Reproductive Autonomy
Abortion bans not only infringe upon individuals’ ability to make decisions about their reproductive health, but also disproportionately affect survivors of rape. Dr. White contends that survivors have already had their reproductive autonomy compromised, and state policies further interfere with their ability to make decisions about their healthcare.
The Landscape of Abortion Bans
Currently, twelve states enforce almost complete bans on abortion, as reported by the Guttmacher Institute. While abortion remains legal in Wisconsin and North Dakota, access to it has become more complicated due to legal uncertainty and the relocation of North Dakota’s only abortion clinic.
The Aftermath of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
The Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v. Wade in June 2022 has led to a wave of states introducing restrictions on or outright bans of abortion. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in patients traveling across state lines to seek abortion care. Research conducted by the Guttmacher Institute in December 2023 revealed that during the first half of that year, nearly one in five individuals seeking an abortion traveled to another state for the procedure.
President Biden’s Position
President Joe Biden, in an effort to expand reproductive rights, has voiced his support for enshrining the protections provided by Roe v. Wade into law. During his re-election campaign, he vowed to sign a bill passed by Congress to restore the abortion protections previously granted by the landmark ruling.
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