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Mississippi Declares Infant Mortality Emergency
Infant Mortality Emergency
Supper Team
September 10, 2025
In partnership with
In a rare move, Mississippi has declared a public health emergency over its rising infant mortality rate — the highest it’s been in more than a decade. State health officials say the move is aimed at speeding up life-saving interventions, especially in underserved areas.
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It’s a wake-up call not just for Mississippi, but for the entire country.
“This declaration is bold, but necessary,” said Michael Warren of the March of Dimes. “It signals just how serious this crisis is.”
📉 The Numbers Are Stark
In 2024, 9.7 out of every 1,000 babies born in Mississippi didn’t make it to their first birthday — the worst rate in the U.S. since at least 2017. Since 2014, over 3,500 infants in the state have died before turning one.
The top causes?
Birth defects (congenital abnormalities)
Low birth weight
Accidents
👶 What's Being Done — and What’s at Risk
Mississippi health officials are rolling out plans to educate families about safe sleep, while also expanding prenatal and postpartum services in counties where OB-GYNs are scarce or nonexistent.
“Healthier moms lead to healthier babies,” said Dr. Dan Edney, the state’s top health officer.
National advocates like Dr. Joia Crear-Perry agree. “The U.S. has the worst maternal outcomes among wealthy nations,” she said. “And what happens to moms often happens to babies.”
But this push is happening just as the federal safety net is unraveling.
⚠️ Cuts, Layoffs, and Shrinking Support
Recent layoffs at the CDC have gutted programs that tracked maternal and infant health trends, including a vital survey (PRAMS) used by states to improve care. Experts say this loss of institutional knowledge is nearly impossible to replace.
At the same time, Medicaid — a lifeline for many Mississippi families — is facing major federal cuts. Over half of births in Mississippi are covered by Medicaid, and future reductions could lead to fewer services, lower provider pay, and even rural hospital closures.
📊 The Broader Picture
Mississippi’s crisis reflects national challenges, especially in states with limited access to reproductive care. After the 2022 end of Roe v. Wade, infant deaths rose in states with abortion bans, particularly among Black babies and those with birth defects.
Researchers say some families are being forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term — a heartbreaking scenario with devastating consequences.
“You can’t separate maternal health, social policy, and infant survival,” said a former CDC staffer. “And many of the people who understood that nuance have lost their jobs.”
🍴 Supper Takeaway
Mississippi’s emergency declaration highlights something we often overlook: infant mortality isn’t just a medical issue — it’s a community one. It’s about access, support, and the long-term impact of policy decisions.
When systems are strained and care is cut, it’s the smallest among us who feel it first.
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