Presidential debate spurs infanticide myths

Other posts discussed a Missouri ballot measure that could legalize abortion, North Dakota’s latest abortion ruling, and episiotomies.

This past week, false claims made during the presidential debate generated widespread conversation about so-called “late-term” abortions in news articles and across social media platforms. Plus, X posts highlighted a Missouri ballot measure that could legalize abortion in the state. On Facebook, users discussed a North Dakota judge’s ruling that the state’s near-total abortion ban is unconstitutional, with some posts claiming that people use abortion “as birth control.” Additionally, a viral video led users to question the necessity of episiotomies, a small incision made during certain vaginal births.

These conversations reveal persistent confusion about when and why people get abortions, show a need for updated information about current abortion laws, and spotlight widespread concerns about episiotomies. In response, communicators may share information about local abortion laws, explain the difference between birth control and abortion, and outline what episiotomies are and why they’re sometimes necessary.

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What’s trending nationally in vaccine conversation:

During the recent presidential debate on September 10, former President Donald Trump expressed support for gestational abortion limits to prevent doctors from allegedly “executing” babies after birth, a claim with no evidence. One of the debate moderators responded to the false claim with a fact check: “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.” That evening, there were approximately 105,000 mentions of “late-term,” “nine month,” and “post-birth” abortions across social media platforms and in news articles. Most conversation happened on X, where popular posts both perpetuated and debunked the false claim that abortion access makes infanticide legal. One post about “late-term abortions” included the text, “This is the level of depravity, incompetence, and casual evil that we are dealing with in government.” That post received approximately 1.9 million views, 39,000 likes, 21,000 shares, and 1,600 comments as of September 17.Also on September 10, a Missouri court ruled that a measure to legalize abortion in the state will appear on the November ballot. If passed, the measure will overturn the state’s near-total abortion ban and enshrine abortion rights in the state. This ruling occurred the day after another judge had ruled that the measure did not meet necessary requirements to appear on the ballot. The sudden change sparked widespread conversation across multiple social media platforms—primarily on X, where posts celebrating the measure received hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of views. In the comments, some X users expressed support for the measure being on the ballot. Others called abortion “murder,” and some claimed that people use abortion in place of birth control.On September 12, a North Dakota judge ruled that the state’s near-total abortion ban is unconstitutional. This decision would make abortion legal in North Dakota within a few weeks. However, there are currently no abortion clinics in the state, and North Dakota’s attorney general is expected to appeal the decision. Within a day, news of the decision spread across multiple social media platforms. One Facebook post sharing an ABC News article about the decision received approximately 8,800 likes, 440 shares, and 1,700 comments as of September 17. Some comments thanked the judge for “having common sense and compassion,” while others claimed that most people who seek abortions are using abortion “as birth control.”

A recent Facebook reel stating that episiotomies should not be common practice garnered approximately 1.6 million views, 4,800 likes, 440 shares, and 2,300 comments as of September 17. While episiotomies used to be more routine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now “recommends that episiotomy be done only when it is absolutely necessary.” The video showed a person in labor who was allegedly receiving an episiotomy while a voice in the background said, “It’ll take longer if you scream.” Text on the video said that in rare cases when an episiotomy is necessary, health care providers should fully explain the procedure to the patient and administer local anesthesia before proceeding. In the comments, Facebook users discussed their own episiotomy experiences, with many advocating against the procedure and stating that doctors “cut more than is necessary.”

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Recommendations for public health professionals

Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about reproductive health. 

The resurgence of false claims about “late-term” abortions may prompt questions about what is allowed in states where abortion is legal. It is recommended to reiterate that no state has ever passed a law allowing people to kill infants after birth. Communicators may also emphasize that abortions at or after 21 weeks are only legal in some states and represent only 1 percent of abortions in the U.S. Typically, abortions later in pregnancy occur when certain fetal anomalies are present or when the pregnant person’s life is in danger. Communicators may also recirculate information about abortion limits in their state.In response to claims that people use abortion “as birth control,” messaging may explain that birth control prevents a pregnancy from occurring, whereas abortion ends a pregnancy. It’s unlikely that abortion would be used in place of contraception given the time and cost involved in both medication abortion and in-clinic abortion procedures. Recirculating materials outlining types of birth control, their effectiveness, and how people can access them is recommended. Ensuring that materials outlining abortion laws in your state are up to date is also recommended—particularly for public health departments, community organizations, and other partners in North Dakota and other states with ongoing legal challenges.Conversations about episiotomies provide an opportunity to educate people about the procedure. Messaging may emphasize that episiotomies are not recommended, as research shows that natural tearing leads to better outcomes. However, episiotomies are sometimes necessary during labor when a baby is in distress or stuck and needs to be delivered quickly. Explaining that patients in labor should receive local anesthesia before an episiotomy—unless they’ve had an epidural—is recommended. Messaging may also encourage pregnant patients to talk to their OB-GYN about why they might need an episiotomy so they know what to expect before labor. Communicators may also share how patients can safely alleviate discomfort while healing from an episiotomy.