One of former President George W. Bush’s first acts after taking office in early 2001 was to cut funding for all NGOs operating abroad that provided funding for abortions. The policy, highly touted by social conservatives, has caused the abortion rates in countries where those NGOs were operating to rise, according to two Stanford researchers.

Researchers at the School of Medicine Dr. Eran Bendavid, Patrick Avila and Grant Miller Ph.D. found that the African countries where funding was cut the most had the highest rises in abortion rates. Between 2001 and 2008, countries most affected by the policy saw abortion rates more than double.

The unintended consequences stem from the fact that many organizations that provide family planning, such as International Planned Parenthood Federation, also provide contraception and information about birth control in addition to abortion counseling.

“If women use abortion as a substitute for modern contraceptives, then reductions in birth control supply could lead to an increase in abortions,” said Miller, assistant professor of medicine and Stanford Health Policy faculty member, in an interview with the Stanford Report.

The policy, originally enacted by former President Ronald Reagan, was based on the principle that taxpayer money should not be spent on funding abortions.

“Regardless of one’s view about abortion, this result shows that the policy objectives of neither side are being met,” Miller said.