Mississippi Declares Newborn Death Emergency as a Record Number Are ‘Losing Their Babies Before Their First Birthday’

Mississippi health officials have declared a public health emergency as infant deaths reach their highest level in more than a decade.

“Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday,” State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney said in an Aug. 21 release from the Mississippi State Department of Health. The current infant mortality rate is 9.7 deaths for every 1,000 live births. Since 2014, the state has lost 3,527 babies before they reached their first year of life.

“This is deeply personal to me — not just as a physician, but as a father and grandfather,” Edney said. “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.”

The leading causes of death include congenital conditions, preterm birth, low birth weight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Officials also pointed to “OB deserts,” areas where families have little or no access to obstetric care.

Nearly half of Mississippi’s counties qualify as OB deserts, according to the maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes, leaving many families at greater risk for poor outcomes.

In response, state officials announced plans to create a consistent standard of care for mothers and newborns, as well as new home-care programs for expectant mothers who face medical risks.

Cindy Rahman, President and CEO of the March of Dimes, called the emergency declaration “a painful reminder of the maternal and infant health crisis facing our nation.” She noted that Black mothers in Mississippi are especially affected, with an infant mortality rate of 15.2 — nearly 24% higher than the previous year. By comparison, the rate among babies born to white mothers has decreased.

“Although Mississippi accounts for less than 1% of U.S. births, the state accounts for more than 1.6% of all infant deaths,” Rahman said. “These losses should be a wake-up call to the nation.”