LAMAR COUNTY, Miss.—Transportation barriers, limited awareness of available resources and gaps in coordination among community organizations continue to prevent some Mississippi families from accessing maternal health care, challenges state health officials say must be addressed to reduce the state’s rising infant mortality rates.
Mississippi recorded an infant mortality rate of 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, the highest the state has seen in more than a decade, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. In response, the department is holding community meetings across the state to identify barriers affecting maternal, infant and child health.
During a July 21 meeting in Hattiesburg, residents, health care providers and community organizations discussed obstacles ranging from transportation and housing to access to prenatal care and better coordination among existing services. Dr. Ashley Hollins, assistant director and epidemiologist for the Northeast Mississippi Healthy Start Program, said the department is relying on local residents to identify challenges and develop solutions.
“You only know what the community can tell you,” Hollins said. “We can’t solve the problem from Jackson or from the top of the state to the bottom of the state. The people in the communities know the most about what’s happening in their communities.”
Hollins said the conversations are especially important in places such as Forrest and Lamar Counties, which continue to experience high infant mortality rates despite having numerous health care providers and community resources.
“We do know this is a resource-rich area, so we want to know why we have these high numbers in the county,” Hollins said.
Transportation Remains a Significant Barrier
Transportation was one of the most frequently discussed concerns during the meeting. Jillian Harper-Peavy, program director for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies at the Mississippi State Department of Health, said many families face obstacles tied to social determinants of health.
“Mainly, of course, it’s the social determinants of health, including poverty, housing, transportation, and just being connected to those resources that they need, whether it be maternal health care or infant care or child care,” Harper-Peavy said.
She said transportation challenges often prevent pregnant women from attending prenatal appointments, reaching specialists or accessing other services.
New Augusta resident Corey Proctor said filling that gap could help families receive the care they need while also connecting them with resources such as mental health services.
“I’d like to see transportation improve, getting mothers to and from the doctor, and how we can work together to connect people with resources such as mental health,” Proctor said.
Access to maternity care remains another challenge. According to March of Dimes PeriStats, 51% of Mississippi counties are classified as maternity care deserts, compared with nearly 33% nationwide. In addition, 24% of women in Mississippi do not have access to a birthing hospital within a 30-minute drive, compared with nearly 10% nationally.
Existing Resources Aren’t Always Reaching Families
Participants also discussed the need for stronger communication among organizations that provide maternal and infant health services.
Health officials said many programs already exist, but families often do not know about them, and organizations are not always aware of one another’s services.
“A lot of us live in silos,” Harper-Peavy said. “One organization might not know what the next is doing.”
She said better coordination among community organizations and health care providers could help connect more families with available assistance.
“The resources are there,” Harper-Peavy said. “You just need to talk to one another, build that community and connect those dots.”
Among the available programs is Mississippi Medicaid’s Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant People program, which provides temporary prenatal coverage while a full Medicaid application is processed.
Early Care Remains Critical
Health officials said expanding access to prenatal care remains one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes for mothers and infants.
According to March of Dimes data, over 76% of live births in Mississippi in 2024 were to women who began prenatal care during their first trimester. Another nearly 18% began care during the second trimester, while nearly 6% received late or no prenatal care.
Harper-Peavy said maternal health begins before pregnancy.
“It starts with mom,” Harper-Peavy said. “It starts before the pregnancy with what we call preconception health.”
As the statewide outreach continues, health officials plan to hold additional community meetings to gather feedback, strengthen partnerships and improve access to care.
“We need some patients and some people who have experienced situations that we talked about tonight,” Hollins said. “We need some of those in the room, so we’ll likely be back.”
This article first appeared on RHCJC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
