The United States faces critical challenges in maternal health, but with awareness, action, and resources, the outcomes for mothers and newborns can improve. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) recently declared a public health emergency due to rising infant mortality rates across the state. According to an MSDH press release, 2024 data show that the infant mortality rate in Mississippi has increased from 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is the highest it has been in over a decade. In Mississippi, 3,527 babies have died before their first birthday since 2014.
“Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday,” said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney. “This is deeply personal to me — not just as a physician, but as a father and grandfather. Every single infant loss represents a family devastated, a community impacted, and a future cut short. We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality. Declaring this a public health emergency is more than a policy decision; it is an urgent commitment to save lives. Mississippi has the knowledge, the resources, and the resilience to change this story. It will take all of us — policymakers, healthcare providers, communities, and families — working together to give every child the chance to live, thrive, and celebrate their first birthday.”
Some of the strategies Edney laid out include eliminating OB deserts and increasing care opportunities, standardizing OB care, expanding community health worker programs, partnering with hospitals and medical providers to address gaps in maternal care, educating families on safe sleep practices to reduce preventable infant deaths, and more.
Infant mortality is described as a multi-dimensional issue, with several moving parts to consider. With that in mind, Dr. Edney plans to leverage clinical leadership to develop a cohesive system to address this public health emergency. “Improving maternal health is the best way to reduce infant mortality,” Dr. Edney added. “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.”