After years of decline, Texas Asian and teen fertility rates rise after abortion ban

A new study by the University of Houston of 2022 fertility data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found more Texas Asian and Hispanic women gave births after Texas banned nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The fertility rate (births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44) for Texas Asian women rose across all age groups except for women between the ages of 20 and 24. The largest increases were in high-risk pregnancy age groups. Asian Americans are often left out of the abortion debate and as the fertility data show abortion bans can impact Asian women significantly.

A new study by the University of Houston of 2022 fertility data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found more Texas Asian and Hispanic women gave births after Texas banned nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The Texas ban, a bill known as Senate Bill 8, took effect September 1, 2021, after the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

According to the data, the fertility rate in Texas rose 2% and its teen birth rate rose 0.4% in 2022 after years of decline. This contrasts with the national trend of declining fertility and teen birth rates. The fertility rate is measured as births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44.

The Texas abortion ban was felt unevenly across racial groups. White and Black women saw declines in fertility rates, while Asian and Hispanic women saw increases – Hispanic women saw the largest increase.

The fertility rate for Texas Asian women rose across all age groups except for women between the ages 20 and 24. The largest increases were in high-risk pregnancy age groups – teens between the ages 15 and 19 and women between the ages 40 and 44 saw an 8% and 5% increase in fertility rates respectively. The increase in the fertility rate for Texas Asian teens in 2022 is of concern as this rate has fallen annually from 3.64 in 2016 to 1.46 in 2021.

Asian Americans are often left out of the abortion debate and as this fertility data show abortion bans can impact Asian women significantly.

Helpful Resources

Texas & Harris County Reproductive Health Update: 2022 Fertility Rates, post 2021 Six-Week Abortion Ban (University of Houston)

Reproductive and Health Rights: National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)