In Mississippi, nearly one in three low-risk first-time mothers undergo cesarean sections—many without clear medical necessity. The state leads the nation in C-section rates, particularly among women least likely to need them. Experts say hospital culture, provider bias, and systemic inequities are driving the trend, often at the expense of women’s health and autonomy.
Jennifer Sloan-Ziegler, a healthy first-time mom from Ridgeland, planned a natural birth. But as her due date neared, her options narrowed. After a series of interventions she didn’t want, she was told she had “failed to progress” and underwent a C-section. “I didn’t feel I had the choice to say no,” she said. The aftermath included severe postpartum depression and chronic pain.
Mississippi’s C-section rate for low-risk first-time births was 30.7% in 2022, far above the national average of 26.3%. At some hospitals, the rate exceeded 50%. Dr. Neel Shah, an OB-GYN and researcher, said, “A person’s biggest risk factor for getting a C-section isn’t her personal preferences or medical needs—it’s which door she walks through.”
Black women are especially vulnerable. Studies show they are more likely to receive C-sections even when controlling for health conditions and access. At South Sunflower County Hospital, 89% of mothers were on Medicaid, and nearly half of low-risk births ended in surgery. Markedia Perryman, a Black mother, suffered a month-long hospital stay after her C-section and now faces another surgery. “It’s like it’s a trend,” she said. “The majority of babies are delivered by C-section.”
Experts warn that overuse of C-sections increases maternal risks and contributes to racial disparities in maternal mortality. “We’ve designed the system backwards,” Shah said. “The right number isn’t zero—but it’s certainly not 32%.”
See: “Mississippi’s C-section problem: A third of low-risk women are undergoing surgery for their first birth” (February 19, 2025)
