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SOPH research published in JAMA Network Open highlights urgent maternal health challenges

SOPH's We Need to Talk campaign successfully raised awareness of the importance of prenatal screenings in fighting syphilis.
SOPH's We Need to Talk campaign successfully raised awareness of the importance of prenatal screenings in fighting syphilis.

Faculty from the John D. Bower School of Population Health recently published a major research article in JAMA Network Open, one of the nation’s leading peer reviewed medical journals. Published online December 30, 2025, the study brings national attention to critical maternal health trends in Mississippi and underscores the importance of sustained public health investment and policy action.

The research documents a dramatic rise in maternal syphilis in Mississippi over the past decade and places these findings within a broader national context. By combining rigorous epidemiologic analysis with real world public health insight, the study illustrates how gaps in access to care, reduced public health capacity and social and economic barriers intersect to produce preventable harms for mothers and infants.

Importantly, the article has already begun to inform conversations among clinicians, public health leaders and policymakers across the state. The findings reinforce the need for early and repeated prenatal screening, robust disease surveillance and renewed support for contact tracing and prevention programs. They also highlight how Mississippi’s experiences can serve as an early warning signal for other states facing similar challenges.

“This work really demonstrates the impact Bower can have in improving health in Mississippi, in terms of research and community impact," says Dr. Dobbs. "This work, led by Dr. Staneva, is representative of the influential work we do. Based on our early research in the topic, our school launched a broad based initiative to improve congenital syphilis rates in our state, an effort that is demonstrating substantial results.”

By publishing in a high impact journal, SOPH faculty are helping ensure that Mississippi’s public health challenges and successes are visible on a national stage. The study exemplifies how population health research can translate data into action and support efforts to improve outcomes for families across the state.

To access MEWI's prenatal care resources or learn more about the "We Need to Talk" campaign, visit umc.edu/weneedtotalk or call (601) 815-6394.