Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-8-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Public Policy Leadership
First Advisor
Melissa Bass
Second Advisor
Jody Holland
Third Advisor
Tess Lefmann
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Despite medical advancements and policy reform, rates of maternal and infant mortality remain disproportionately high in various regions of the United States. The state of Mississippi consistently yields some of the highest rates of both infant and maternal mortality rates nationally. In the past decade, California has developed a series of initiatives and policies to combat rates of maternal and infant mortality across the state. Through state-level policy efforts such as the Maternal Quality Care Collaborative and Mandated Paid Maternity Leave, California consistently leads the nation with the lowest rates of maternal mortality. Initiatives such as the Black Infant Health Program have assisted in cutting the rate of infant mortality in half in the past decade. The goal of this study is to ascertain the opinions’ of healthcare workers on the state of Mississippi replicating California’s policies in order to reduce rates of maternal and infant mortality. I interviewed five healthcare professionals about their experiences, common causes of maternal and infant mortality in the state, and the potential successful replication and implementation of California’s policies in Mississippi. From the interviews, I identified three main themes in the causes of maternal and infant mortality: negative social determinants of health, lack of access, and pre-existing health issues. All of the respondents favored replicating postpartum care policy and an educational program to reduce negative social determinants of health. These results were used to develop policy recommendations, including the Black Infant Health Program and Mandated Paid Maternity Leave.
Recommended Citation
Holland, Allison G., "Could Policy Replication Improve Maternal and Infant Mortality in Mississippi? Perceptions of Healthcare Workers" (2025). Honors Theses. 3332.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3332