The Mississippi State Department of Health has declared a public health emergency after state data revealed the highest infant mortality rate in more than a decade. Officials confirmed that in 2024, 9.7 infants per 1,000 live births died before reaching their first birthday, prompting urgent intervention.
Increasing Infant Mortality Rate
Mississippi State officials emphasized the depth of the crisis, noting that more than 3,500 infants have died since 2014. The trend reflects worsening outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations, with racial disparities widening sharply and threatening to undermine progress in maternal and infant health across Mississippi communities.
The latest figures highlight worsening racial and demographic disparities in Mississippi. The infant mortality rate among Black infants surged from 12.3 in 2023 to 15.2 deaths per 1000 live births in 2024. Meanwhile, the rate for white infants dropped to 5.8, revealing striking racial inequities deeply rooted in problematic healthcare and societal systems.
Congenital malformations account for many cases, while preterm births and low birth weights significantly heighten vulnerability. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome further contributes, often linked to unsafe sleep practices. These combined factors underscore the urgent need for stronger maternal care and preventive interventions statewide.
Public health experts emphasize that medical issues alone cannot explain the crisis. Structural inequities intensify risks, as poverty restricts healthy living conditions, housing instability creates unsafe environments, and inadequate transportation limits access to timely care. These barriers severely worsen outcomes for vulnerable mothers and infants.
The declaration aims to mobilize resources and actions. Plans include expanding prenatal care in underserved counties, creating a regional obstetric care network, strengthening home visiting programs, increasing community health worker deployment, and promoting safe infant sleep practices through statewide awareness and education campaigns.
Dan Edney, Mississippi State Health Officer, underscored that every infant death devastates families and communities, declaring that such outcomes must not be accepted as inevitable. He affirmed the commitment of his department to reducing mortality rates and implementing structural reforms necessary to protect maternal and infant health.
Medicaid and Federal Funding Issues
The crisis coincides with significant federal funding challenges. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has faced layoffs and potential elimination. Without such data, experts warned that Mississippi and other states risk losing the ability to monitor emerging maternal and infant health trends.
Medicaid policy also remains central to the discussion. Mississippi extended postpartum Medicaid coverage in 2023 from two months to one year. However, the state has not expanded Medicaid coverage for low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act, leaving many women without consistent healthcare access before or between pregnancies.
Federal policy proposals imposing work requirements or funding caps could increase the uninsured population in the state by up to 40,000 people. Such measures would destabilize rural hospitals, worsen obstetric care shortages, and expand areas where there are no access to maternal health care across an already vulnerable healthcare landscape.
Comparisons with neighboring states demonstrate the benefits of Medicaid expansion. Arkansas recorded a 29 percent reduction in infant mortality among Black infants, while Louisiana and Colorado achieved measurable improvements in prenatal care and reductions in premature births, particularly in rural areas with limited health infrastructure.
The public health crisis in Mississippi due to rising numbers of infant deaths is not solely a medical issue but one rooted in persistent societal inequities. American sociologist and historian W. E. B. Du Bois identified infant mortality as a symptom of structural injustice over a century ago. These disparities demonstrate that those inequities remain entrenched.
Mississippi is urging coordinated action among all relevant stakeholders. Leaders stressed that reversing the crisis requires comprehensive collaboration and long-term commitment. Mississippi officials concluded that the survival of infants depends on systemic change, collective responsibility, and prioritization of maternal and infant health equity.