The newly released 2025 March of Dimes Report Card reveals both serious concerns and important opportunities for continued progress in maternal and infant health in Arkansas.
According to the report, several key indicators worsened in 2024. Arkansas’s preterm birth rate remained at 12.1% and once again earned an “F” grade, with the state falling from 46th to 47th place nationally. Infant mortality increased from 7.7 to 8.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing Arkansas second to last among other states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Access to adequate prenatal care and cases of low-risk cesarean births also deteriorated, underscoring persistent gaps in early access to care and overall maternal well-being.
However, the report also points to meaningful signs of progress. Arkansas now ranks among the top 10 ten states for having one of the lowest rates of severe maternal morbidity, meaning unexpected complications during labor and delivery complications that pose serious, not but not fatal health risks. This reflects stronger hospital-based quality initiatives and emergency-response systems. Maternal mortality trends, which track deaths during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, also improved compared to the previous reporting period.
Following the landmark maternal health legislation enacted in 2025, these findings are a reminder of how much progress Arkansas has made and how much work there is still left to be done. Earlier this year, the state passed one of the most comprehensive maternal care packages in the nation, including the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, statewide certification and reimbursement for community-based doulas, expanded privileges for certified nurse midwives, and expanded remote monitoring and telehealth options, making prenatal care more accessible. Arkansas also became the first state in the South to provide 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for public school educators,with the state covering 100% of the costs, ensuring new parents won’t have to choose between bonding with their baby and financial stability.
“Arkansas has made important strides, including one of the largest maternal health legislative packages in our state’s history,” said Ashley Bearden Campbell, executive director of Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health “We are seeing early signs of progress in clinical quality measures, but as the data shows, our moms are still struggling with some of the worst outcomes in the nation. The work ahead will require sustained commitment, bipartisan support and strong coordination across hospitals, community partners and state agencies so these laws truly improve the health of Arkansas moms and babies. AIM looks forward to continuing to work alongside our policymakers and community partners to ensure every family in Arkansas has access to the care they deserve.”
The March of Dimes recommends continued investment in early and adequate prenatal care, expansion of community-based supports such as doulas and home visiting, efforts to reduce unnecessary cesarean births and targeted strategies to address chronic conditions that complicate pregnancy. The report also reinforces the need to strengthen rural maternity care, grow the maternal health workforce and improve coordination and accountability across systems.
For more information and to read the full report, visit marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/arkansas/report-card.
