Mississippi has nation's worst rate of stillbirths. What causes this?
Mississippi once again led the nation in stillbirths, an area that the Magnolia state knows all too well, according to a 2023 report based on 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC, Mississippi leads all states with a nation-worst rate of 10 deaths per 1,000 live births, almost twice the national rate of 5.73.
The state total was a slight improvement from the previous year. Mississippi also led the nation in the 2022 report based on 2020 data. The Magnolia State had 10.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020.
Neighboring state Alabama ranked second worst in the most recent report, with 8.71 deaths per 1,000 live births. The South, in general, was the worst in the country. Arkansas recorded 8.38 deaths per 1,000 live births. But neighboring Louisiana was nearly twice as good as Mississippi at 5.23 stillbirths per 1,000 live births.
In the report, only territories Guam and Puerto Rico were worse than Mississippi.
No singular cause for the stillbirths was specified in the National Vital Statistics Report. Common causes were complications of the placenta, umbilical cord and membranes; maternal conditions unrelated to pregnancy; maternal complications of pregnancy and congenital malformations. Tobacco users had nearly double the rate of the national average.
Mississippi's healthcare has been challenged in general in recent years with hospital closures a major issue across the state, especially in rural areas.
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Nationally, 21,105 stillbirths occurred in 2021, the most recent year the data is compiled. Mississippi reported 355 stillbirths statewide. In 2020, the U.S. recorded 20,854 stillbirths. That was an average of 5.74 stillbirths per 1,000 live births, similar to the most recent data.
The report examined fetuses in utero that occurred after 20 weeks gestation — also called stillbirths.
State Health Officer Daniel P. Edney of the Mississippi State Department of Health in Jackson said stillbirths in Mississippi are a growing demographic. Edney said the MSDH has the updated numbers but declined to share those publicly.
"We're struggling with high maternal and infant mortality rates," Edney said. "When we're talking about fetal demise and deaths, we're talking about a pregnancy that's 20 weeks or more where we lose the baby and if before 20 weeks its a miscarriage. General anomalies such as genetic issues prevent the fetus from surviving, and an unhealthy placenta where the fetus cannot receive enough nourishment. We also in Mississippi have a lower rate of acceptance of prenatal care. Women who did not seek prenatal care early have a higher risk of fetal deaths and maternal death."
Edney said older women becoming pregnant increases the risk of fetal death along with other factors mentioned prior.
According to the CDC reports on fetal deaths, a breakdown of the rate by race for each state showed that Black mothers in the U.S. had a fetal mortality rate of 10.34 in 2020, compared to 4.73 for white mothers.
"And that's why we must keep looking at the factors impacting women having the most trouble and the highest rate," Edney said.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi leads nation with worst stillbirth rate
