State Health Officer discusses public health emergency on infant mortality

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi is facing an infant mortality crisis, and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) declared a public health emergency in response to the deaths.

According to the agency, Mississippi’s 2024 data shows the overall infant mortality rate has increased to 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is the highest in more than a decade. In Mississippi, 3,527 babies have died before the age of 1 since 2014.

“Poverty drives the bus. And when you look at the moms and babies that we’re losing, it’s impoverished moms and babies, very low-income moms and babies. Most, not all, but a lot of them in rural areas. The Delta leads the way. The highest rate of maternal and infant death are our core Delta counties,” said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney.

Many of the deaths are linked to preventable causes, which could be addressed with earlier care and better access to medical services. In rural areas of the state, OB-GYN care is limited or nonexistent.

“It is a national issue. We’re just the worst state in the nation with it. And when the worst day in the nation gets worse, that’s an emergency,” Edney said.

According to officials, MSDH is leveraging clinical leadership to coordinate intra-agency resources to develop a united system to address this public health emergency. In direct response to this emergency, a multi-pronged strategy includes:  

• Activating an OB (Obstetrics) System of Care, which standardizes and regionalizes maternal and infant care, improves transfer systems designating levels of care and expedites transfers to appropriate facilities.
• Eliminating “OB deserts” by increasing prenatal care opportunities utilizing targeted county health departments.
• Expanding community health worker programs to connect mothers and babies with care and resources where they live.
• Strengthening Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, a care management and home visiting program that supports expectant moms and infants at risk, providing safer birthing experiences and healthier infant development.
• Partnering with hospitals and medical providers to address gaps in maternal care and to reinforce the importance of early prenatal visits.
• Educating families on safe sleep practices to reduce preventable infant deaths.

Officials said the emergency declaration allows MSDH to mobilize resources more quickly and work with partners across the state to reverse these trends. 

“It definitely will help save lives of those babies that we’re losing in the first week of life. Getting them to a higher level of care faster. Getting those babies the care they need as quickly as possible to the system of care work is going to make a difference,” said Edney.