Mississippi health officials declared a public health emergency last week in response to the state’s rising infant mortality rate, stating that too many “families are losing their babies before their first birthday.”
“We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality,” State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney wrote. “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.”
Data collected from the state’s health department revealed the 2024 overall infant mortality rate in Mississippi increased to 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. Since 2014, 3,527 babies have died in the state before reaching age 1.
The data also show that the Black infant mortality rate in Mississippi was more than twice as high as the mortality rate for white infants in 2024.
Congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome are the leading causes of Mississippi’s infant deaths. Edney said the best way to reduce infant mortality is by improving maternal health.
