COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health recently declared a public health emergency on infant mortality in response to rising rates across the state. Infant deaths include those occurring between birth and one year of age.

At Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle, they are taking the issue very seriously.

Mississippi is one of the leading states for infant mortality in the nation. That’s according to the director of Women’s and Pediatric Services at Baptist Golden Triangle, Bradley Rhodes.

“We actually have about a two times higher chance of infant mortality in our state than the national average. Ten out of every 1000 babies in the state of Mississippi will die before their first birthday,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes said the 3 leading causes of death for infa

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