Mississippi health officials recently declared a public health emergency as the state’s infant mortality rate continues to rise.
Also released alongside data, the state of emergency announcement comes as the infant mortality rate has increased to the highest level it has been in over a decade. As of 2024, approximately 9.7 infants died for every 1,000 live births. The rate is double that of the national average.
By declaring the issue a public health emergency, Mississippi health officials are urging public leaders to address issues in gaps, including the funding cuts to programs such as the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Known as PRAMS, the initiative is led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and monitors the infant and maternal health data in each state.
Without it, state officials are warning there could be increased difficulty with detecting trends in health issues amongst mothers and infants.
Through the public health emergency declaration, health officials are also working to address any gaps that exist in their health system. Currently, their plans include strengthening maternal health care to, in turn, help reduce infant mortality.
The state is expected to be further burdened by changes to Medicaid. The state has not expanded Medicaid, with analysts predicting that the uninsured rate will go up to 2%, leaving 40,000 residents without coverage.
“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,” said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney per a press release. “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.”
Black babies in the state have been identified as being most vulnerable. Per state data, approximately 15.2 infants in Black families died per every 1,000 live births. In comparison, 5.8 infants in white families died per every 1,000 live births.
Across the nation, the gap persists. According to a 2024 report by the CDC, the national average for the infant mortality rate amongst Black families is approximately 10.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Meanwhile, the national average for white families is approximately 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The lack of Medicaid expansion is credited as being a key contributor to this higher rate in Mississippi.
Analysts previously determined that there was a 50% greater reduction in infant mortality amongst states that expanded Medicaid.
