About the Mississippi Delta Center of Excellence in Maternal Health

The Mississippi Delta Center of Excellence in Maternal Health is an NIH/NICHD-funded research center led by Jackson State University and supported through a seven-year cooperative agreement under the IMPROVE Initiative (Grant No. 1U54HD113238-01). The Center’s mission is to prevent maternal mortality, reduce severe maternal morbidity, and promote health equity in partnership with the Mississippi Delta community using community-based participatory research.

MSDCOE coordinates research projects, training initiatives, and community engagement activities focused on postpartum care, reproductive health, community-based support models, maternal health training research, and mental health. All activities are conducted under Institutional Review Board (IRB) oversight to ensure ethical research practices and participant protections (IRB number is Continuation Protocol # 0021-24-25-26). Through collaboration with community organizations, healthcare partners, and academic institutions, the Center contributes to a growing body of knowledge aimed at informing future maternal health research, policy, and practice.

Geographic Focus

The MSDCOE focuses its research activities on 4 counties located in the Delta (Bolivar, Washington, Humphreys, and Carroll). Scott County is not located in the Delta.

Selected counties represent maternal health deserts and a significantly higher number of births (18-45 years) based on 2022-2023 available data sources.

AIMS

PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE

The Jackson State University (JSU) – Mississippi Delta Research Center of Excellence for Maternal Health was established to address preventable maternal mortality, decrease severe maternal morbidity, and promote maternal health in partnership with the Mississippi Delta community.

This research center will conduct two multi-layered research projects utilizing community health partners, inclusive of an extensive research training program for early-stage investigators, to address the interpersonal, policy, and systemic factors that affect maternal health and well-being in the state of Mississippi.

By building strong, lasting community partnerships throughout the process, this research center aims to address barriers to high-quality, culturally competent postpartum maternal care and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in the Mississippi Delta.

Why Do We Exist?

Maternal mortality in the United States is higher than in peer nations and has not decreased since 1990. Beyond mortality, severe maternal morbidity impacts far too many women. Not only are these high rates alarming, but notable racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities exist.

These disparities are highly regional, with women living in the rural southeast part of the United States, including the Mississippi Delta, having the highest rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.

Unfortunately, these disparities have persisted despite numerous interventions and programs, necessitating an innovative multifaceted approach focused on community practice, building trust, and prioritizing patient voices.

Therefore, the JSU- Mississippi Delta Research Center of Excellence for Maternal Health was established, with the goal of addressing preventable maternal mortality, decreasing severe maternal morbidity, and promoting improvements in maternal health through partnership with the Mississippi Delta community.

The Collaborative (Partnering Institutions)

2023-Present

To achieve The Center’s aims, we have brought together experienced teams with diverse expertise and perspectives, combining knowledge and resources from multiple institutions and non-profit community-based organization:

- Jackson State University/College of Health Sciences,
- Mississippi State Department of Health,
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,
- University of Mississippi Medical Center/Obstetrics and Gynecology Department
- Alcorn State University/School of Nursing
- Community Partners