Mississippi has declared a public health emergency in response to a devastating surge in infant mortality, a crisis that has gripped the state with a force not seen in over a decade. The announcement, made on August 27, 2025, by State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney, marks the first time the state has invoked emergency powers specifically to address maternal and infant health. The move is a signal of just how grave the situation has become: Mississippi’s infant mortality rate has soared to nearly 10 deaths per 1,000 live births, almost double the national average and the highest the state has seen since 2014.
Behind these numbers lies a sobering reality. Since 2014, more than 3,500 Mississippi babies have died before their first birthday—a staggering toll for a state that accounts for less than 1% of U.S. births but more than 1.6% of all infant deaths, according to March of Dimes. In 2024 alone, the state recorded 9.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that dwarfs the national rate, which itself rose to 5.6 per 1,000 in 2022. The situation has only worsened, with 2024 marking the highest infant mortality rate in Mississippi in over a decade.
“Every single infant loss represents a family devastated, a community impacted, and a future cut short,” Dr. Edney stated, underscoring the deep emotional and societal cost of the crisis. He added, “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.”
But the crisis is not evenly distributed. Stark racial disparities are woven through the fabric of Mississippi’s infant mortality statistics. In 2024, Black infants in the state died at a rate of 15.2 per 1,000 live births—a 24% increase from the previous year and more than twice the rate for white infants, which actually declined over the same period. This gap is more than a statistical anomaly; it is a reflection of systemic inequities and deep-seated barriers to care.
“Although Mississippi accounts for less than 1% of US births, the state accounts for more than 1.6% of all infant deaths,” Cindy Rahman, President and CEO of March of Dimes, emphasized in a recent statement. The leading causes of these deaths—congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome—are often linked to broader issues of maternal health and access to care.
Nearly half of Mississippi’s counties are classified as “OB deserts” or “maternity care deserts,” meaning they have no local obstetric care available. For countless families, especially those in rural areas or with limited incomes, this means traveling hours just to reach a prenatal appointment or to deliver a baby. According to a 2024 March of Dimes report, about a third of U.S. counties do not have a single obstetric clinician, a reality that disproportionately affects states like Mississippi.
“We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality,” Dr. Edney wrote in a widely circulated message. He stressed that the best way to reduce infant mortality is by improving maternal health: “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.”
To that end, Edney has called for a multi-pronged approach: increasing prenatal care opportunities, expanding community health worker programs, and educating families on safe sleep practices. But he also acknowledged that these efforts face significant headwinds. Recent federal cuts to health programs under the Trump administration, including the elimination of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), threaten to undermine research and intervention efforts. PRAMS, operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maintained a vital dataset on U.S. births for OB-GYN research. “Data from PRAMS is critical because it allows us to monitor and understand emerging issues that impact maternal and child health outcomes,” Dr. Sindhu Srinivas, president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, told MedPage Today.
Mississippi’s healthcare landscape is further complicated by limited Medicaid coverage. Nearly 60% of births in the state are financed through Medicaid—57% in 2023, according to KFF Health News—but eligibility remains narrow, leaving thousands of low-income women in a "coverage gap" without affordable insurance before, during, or after pregnancy. The state has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a decision that public health experts argue directly contributes to poor maternal and infant outcomes. While Mississippi did recently extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months, advocates say this step, though important, does not replace the need for broader expansion that would ensure continuous care for women of childbearing age.
Adding to the complexity, Mississippi enforces a near-total abortion ban after leading the legal battle that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The state’s restrictive laws have resulted in fewer options for maternal care, greater pressure on already limited healthcare systems, and higher risks for both mothers and infants. Research from JAMA Pediatrics on Texas—another state with strict abortion laws—found a link between rising infant mortality and increased rates of preterm births and high-risk pregnancies carried to term. The implication for Mississippi is clear: restrictive reproductive policies may be exacerbating, not alleviating, the crisis.
Dr. Edney is adamant that collaboration is the only way forward. “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,” he wrote. The call for unity is echoed by public health leaders and advocates, who argue that lasting change will require bold investments in healthcare access, racial equity, and maternal support systems.
Mississippi’s emergency declaration is a stark reminder that reproductive justice is not merely about the right to choose, but also the right to safe pregnancy, healthy childbirth, and the ability to raise children with dignity and security. The crisis has exposed the deep cracks in the state’s healthcare system and the urgent need for systemic reform. Whether Mississippi can turn the tide on infant mortality will depend on the collective will of its leaders, communities, and citizens to prioritize the health and future of its youngest residents.
For now, the eyes of the nation are on Mississippi, watching to see if this emergency declaration will be the catalyst for the sweeping changes so desperately needed.
