Mississippi issues public health emergency over infant mortality rate

The infant mortality rate in Mississippi has reached its highest level in more than a decade, prompting state health officials to declare a public health emergency. 

The move will enable state health officials to mobilize resources quickly and work with community partners to improve maternal and infant care, the state’s health department said in an Aug. 21 news release. In 2024, there were 9.7 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births in Mississippi, according to state data. This is nearly double the national average of 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. 

Leading causes of infant death in Mississippi include congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome. 

“Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday,” Dan Edney, MD, Mississippi’s state health officer, said in a statement. “Improving maternal health is the best way to reduce infant mortality. That means better access to prenatal and postpartum care, stronger community support and more resources for moms and babies. Healthy women of childbearing age are more likely to have healthy pregnancies, which in turn lead to healthier babies.”

Under the PHE, the state is activating an “obstetrics system of care” to standardize and regionalize maternal and infant care. The system will help expedite patient transfers to appropriate facilities. Health officials are also working to expand access to prenatal services, improve existing home visit and care management programs, and work closely with hospitals to address gaps in care. 

The public health emergency underscores longstanding disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes in the U.S., particularly for Black families and those living in rural or underserved areas. Black infants are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to white infants, and Black women face a maternal mortality rate over three times higher than white women, according to a recent report from the McKinsey institute for Economic Mobility. 

Nationwide, more than one-third of counties are considered maternity care deserts, where residents face higher rates of inadequate prenatal care, preterm birth and chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

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