Children born in states with laws targeting abortion, providers were more likely to be admitted into the foster care system, according to a new cohort study analyzing data from more than 4 million children.

In states with Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws, there was an 11% increase in foster care placement compared to states without these laws (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.23), with a particular impact on Black children (IRR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05-1.28) and kids of other racial and ethnic minority groups (IRR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.30), reported Savannah Adkins, PhD, of Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and co-authors in JAMA Pediatricsopens in a new tab or window.

The reason for foster care entry was particularly attributable to housing inadequacy (IRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.11-1.32), they said.

“Restrictive abortion policies may contribute to the overrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority children in the foster care system, perpetuating inequities and further straining vulnerable populations,” authors wrote.

“That’s a really big finding because [minoritized] children […]