By Linda Dixon, MCJ Director, Health Justice
Mississippi continues to face a maternal health crisis that demands urgency, accountability, and collaboration. Our state consistently ranks among those with the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. Even more troubling, Black women account for roughly 78% of pregnancy-related deaths in Mississippi and are more than four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Behind these numbers are mothers, daughters, sisters, and families experiencing loss that is too often preventable.
Maternal health is not simply about pregnancy and childbirth. It is about whether women are heard when they say something is wrong. It is about whether they can see a doctor when they need one. It is about whether they have insurance coverage, transportation, mental health support, and continuity of care after delivery. It is also about whether their privacy, dignity, and bodily autonomy are protected throughout their care.
Equity in maternal healthcare cannot exist without trust — and trust depends on patient confidentiality. Quality care encompasses clinical competence, respect, and shared decision-making. Bodily autonomy, the right to make decisions about one’s healthcare without coercion or fear, is foundational to maternal health. When women feel empowered to ask questions, decline procedures, request second opinions, or seek alternative care models, outcomes improve. When their voices are dismissed, risks increase.
Federal privacy protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) exist to safeguard sensitive health information. But beyond compliance with the law, providers must actively communicate how patient information is protected. Patients deserve to understand who can access their records, how information is shared, and what their rights are. Transparency builds confidence. Confidence builds trust. Trust saves lives.
Mothers must feel safe disclosing mental health challenges, experiences of domestic violence, financial instability, substance use concerns, and chronic health conditions. These disclosures are often critical to identifying risks and preventing complications. If women fear judgment, stigma, or breaches of confidentiality, they are less likely to seek care, disclose life-threatening symptoms, or return for postpartum visits.
In a state where maternal mortality disproportionately impacts Black women, protecting patient privacy is both a legal requirement and a matter of life and death. Confidentiality safeguards dignity, autonomy, and honest communication between patient and provider. It creates the conditions necessary for early intervention and effective treatment. When we center Black mothers, we strengthen care for all mothers. When we protect privacy, we build trust. And when we move from policy promises to practical implementation, we save lives.