The U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the developed world, and in 2022, it got even higher. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the rate jumped from 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2021 to 5.6 in 2022—the largest increase in two decades, and a potential sign that a long downward trend may be turning around.

It can be tempting to look for patterns that point to possible explanations for these trends, but it’s important to remember that data don't always mean what we think they do. Still, two findings in the CDC report make me think that researchers seeking answers to infant mortality might look more closely at abortion and maternal health policies implemented following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

• Three of the four states with the largest increases in the CDC’s report—Missouri, Texas, and Georgia—were leaders in 2022 in enforcing strict policies regarding women's health.
• Of the 10 leading causes of death for infants in the U.S., mortality rates increased for two: bacterial sepsis, or infection, and maternal complications. The latter could point to rising barriers to health care access for women.