Sex-selective abortion bans (SSABs)-which prohibit the seeking of abortions based on the fetus’ sex-increase the likelihood of low birth weight and preterm births among infants born to Asian immigrant mothers, according to a new study by Yale sociologist emma zang.
The study also shows that the bans, which are law in 14 U.S. states, do not affect male-female sex ratios among infants born to thes mothers, undermining the rationale behind them, Zang said.
Critics of the laws argue that proponents have invoked stereotypes about Asian immigrants holding a preference for male children.”advocates for sex-selective abortion bans frequently enough have justified them by invoking xenophobic stereotypes that frame Asian cultures and immigrants as incompatible with American values of gender equality,” said Zang, associate professor of sociology, biostatistics, and global affairs in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs.
“Our findings link these bans to negative birth outcomes for Asian immigrant women and show they do nothing to achieve their stated purpose of reducing sex-selective practices. They suggest that the bans stigmatize Asian immigrants,fostering a hostile social environment that harms maternal and infant health.”
The researchers found that the probability of low birth weight (newborns weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces) and preterm birth (infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) increased by 0.3 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively, among Asian immigrant mothers in states with SSABs, compared to other foreign-born mothers. This translates to an additional 1,086 infants with low birth weight and 1,810 preterm births among the 362,045 children born to Asian immigrant mothers in six states with SSABs.
Sex-Selective Abortion Bans Linked to Poorer Birth Outcomes for Asian Immigrants, Yale Study Finds
New research from Yale University reveals that state-level bans on sex-selective abortion are associated with poorer birth outcomes for Asian immigrant women in the United States. The study, published in Social Science & Medicine, found that these bans led to an increase in the proportion of female births among this population, but also a decrease in overall birth weight and an increase in preterm births.
Researchers analyzed birth certificate data from 2000 to 2020, comparing states with and without sex-selective abortion bans (SSABs). They discovered that while the bans appeared to shift sex ratios towards more female births – suggesting they were achieving their intended effect – this came at a cost to infant health.”We found that SSABs are associated with a small but statistically meaningful decrease in birth weight and an increase in preterm birth among Asian immigrants,” explained lead author emma Zang, assistant professor of sociology at Yale. “This suggests that the bans may be leading some women to carry unwanted pregnancies to term, which can have negative consequences for both mother and child.”
The study also highlights that SSABs don’t address the underlying reasons for sex preference, and may even push individuals towards choice methods of sex selection, such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, offer alternative means for sex selection that SSABs do not regulate.
“Our work demonstrates how SSABs and other symbolic policies-those primarily meant to convey a message rather than address a real-world problem-can have serious consequences on people’s health and well-being, especially when they are motivated by fear of foreign ‘others,'” Zang said. “It also underscores the need for more nuanced policy discussions in the United States surrounding abortion access, anti-Asian stigma, and immigration.”
The study was co-authored by Keitaro Okura, a graduate student in Yale’s Department of Sociology, and Melissa Tian, a 2024 graduate of Yale College and former research assistant in the Department of Sociology.
More data:
Emma Zang et al, Sex-selective abortion bans and the birth outcomes of Asian immigrants, Social Science & Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016 / J.Socscimed.2025.118442Citation: Sex-selective abortion bans harm maternal and infant health, according to study (2025, August 29) retrieved 29 August 2025 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-sex-abortion-maternal-infant-health.html
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