Fact check: Comparison of live births VS abortions 2022

1. Summary of the results

The comparison of live births to abortions in 2022, as per the analyses provided, indicates that there were 199 abortions per 1,000 live births in 2022, according to the CDC's abortion surveillance data ^[1]. This ratio is confirmed by the CDC Abortion Surveillance report for 2022, which also provides the total number of abortions ^{[2] [3]} used to calculate this ratio ^[4]. Another analysis from the CDC reports 613,383 abortions and an abortion ratio of 199 abortions per 1,000 live births, implying roughly 3.08 million live births in the 48 reporting areas ^[4]. The Johns Hopkins study estimates that abortion bans in 14 states caused 22,180 additional live births during September 2021-August 2022 ^[5]. The Georgia Tech analysis finds that total abortion bans raised birth rates by 2.3% in affected states, adding about 32,000 births annually ^[6].

• Key points from the analyses include:
• The abortion ratio of 199 abortions per 1,000 live births ^{[1] [4]}
• The total number of abortions in 2022 ^[4]
• The implied number of live births in the 48 reporting areas ^[4]
• The increase in live births due to abortion bans ^{[5] [6]}
• These points provide a comprehensive understanding of the comparison between live births and abortions in 2022.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some analyses do not provide total live-birth figures for 2022 or a direct live-birth-to-abortion comparison, instead focusing on abortion counts and rates ^[7]. The CDC's abortion surveillance reports provide national abortion rates, but the live-birth denominator is not always explicitly stated ^[4]. Alternative viewpoints, such as the impact of abortion bans on live births, are presented in the Johns Hopkins study and the Georgia Tech analysis ^{[5] [6]}.

• The analyses from the CDC ^{[1] [4]} and the Guttmacher Institute ^[7] provide different perspectives on the topic.
• The Johns Hopkins study ^[5] and the Georgia Tech analysis ^[6] offer additional insights into the effects of abortion bans on live births.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading if it implies that the comparison of live births to abortions is the only relevant metric, as it does not account for changes in fertility rates or access to abortion services ^{[5] [6]}. The statement may also overlook the regional variations in abortion rates and live births, as highlighted in the CDC's abortion surveillance reports ^[4].

• The CDC ^{[1] [4]} and the Guttmacher Institute ^[7] may benefit from a more comprehensive presentation of the data.
• The Johns Hopkins study ^[5] and the Georgia Tech analysis ^[6] may benefit from considering the potential broader implications of abortion bans on live births and fertility rates.