AN ALARMING number of infant deaths has led to one state declaring a public health emergency.
The state’s Department of Health reported that its infant mortality rate has risen to its highest level in over a decade.
Infant deaths in Mississippi have spiked[/caption]
The infant deaths have risen in the past decade leading to a state of emergency[/caption]
Mississippi reported 9.7 infants died for every 1,000 born, which is almost double the national average of 5.6 deaths, according to the Department of Health.
Since 2014, 3,527 babies have died before turning a year old.
“Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday,” State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney said in a press release.
Edney said the issue is close to his heart, as he’s a father and a grandfather.
“Declaring this a public health emergency is more than a policy decision; it is an urgent commitment to save lives,” he continued.
“Mississippi has the knowledge, the resources and the resilience to change this story.
“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.”
The leading cause of death for infants, which includes those under the age of one, is congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The rise of infant deaths has been occurring most commonly during the child’s first 28 days of life.
“Improving maternal health is the best way to reduce infant mortality,” Dr. Edney added.
“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.”
Almost half of the counties in Mississippi are deemed maternity care deserts, leaving expecting mothers with little help during pregnancy, according to March of Dimes.
“The Mississippi Department of Health’s declaration of a public health emergency in response to infant mortality is a painful reminder of the maternal and infant health crisis facing our nation,” Cindy Rahman, the president and CEO of March of Dimes, said in a statement.
What is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby under the age of 12 months where no cause is found.
Around 89 per cent of deaths happen when the tot is under six months old.
It is relatively rare, with 182 babies dying from SIDS in the UK in 2021.
While doctors don’t know exactly what triggers it, there are ways to significantly reduce the chances of SIDS occurring:
- Put your baby on their back for all sleeps – day and night
- Share a room with your baby for the first six months
- Place your baby on their own, clear, flat sleep surface (e.g. cot or Moses basket)
- Keep your baby smoke-free during pregnancy and after birth
- Never sleep on a sofa or armchair
- Do not co-sleep if you or anyone in the bed has been drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking drugs or medication that makes you drowsy
These things are especially important for babies who were born prematurely or of a low birth weight, as they are typically at higher risk of SIDS.
Source: The Lullaby Trust
Rahman noted that the burden falls especially hard on babies born to Black moms, who experienced an infant mortality rate of 15.2.”
The CEO said it should be a wake-up call to the nation.
“Healthy babies come from healthy moms,” Dr. Rebekah Gee, former Louisiana health secretary and now CEO of Nest Health, told CBS News.
“If women can’t get continuous healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy, it is no surprise their babies are dying at higher rates.”
Since declaring a state of emergency, the Mississippi Department of Health is working to create a unified system statewide to address the issue.
The agency developed a strategy that includes standardizing and regionalizing maternal and infant care, eliminating obstetric care deserts, and expanding community health worker programs.
The state will also continue to operate the Strengthening Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies program, which supports expecting mothers and at-risk infants.
The state will also work with hospitals to address gaps in maternal care and educate families on safe sleep practices to prevent infant deaths.
