Summary

The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) dashboard provides an overview of how the committee reviews pregnancy-associated death cases during each quarterly meeting.

Data Source

Texas Vital Statistics (VSTAT)

Data Description

DSHS combines different data sources to identify pregnancy-associated death cases to determine cause of death and pregnancy-relatedness. Deaths determined to be pregnancy-related are reviewed by the MMMRC to determine potential preventability, contributing factors, and actionable recommendations. Data supports DSHS programs. DSHS staff and policymakers monitor trends and make decisions to improve the health of Texas mothers and babies.

Maternal Mortality: The dashboard presents maternal mortality findings from DSHS analyses of statewide trends, rates, and population differences. In calculating the maternal mortality ratio, DSHS uses an enhanced four-step approach and identifies maternal deaths that occur during pregnancy or within 42 days postpartum. Maternal mortality terminology used in this dashboard include:

• Pregnancy-Associated Death: The death of a woman while pregnant or within one year of the end of pregnancy regardless of the cause. Pregnancy-associated deaths include maternal mortality cases that are pregnancy-related, not pregnancy-related, and when pregnancy-relatedness is undetermined
• Pregnancy-Related Death: The death of a woman during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy from a pregnancy complication, a chain of events initiated by pregnancy, or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of pregnancy.
• Maternal Deaths: Include deaths that occur during pregnancy or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy, excluding deaths due to motor vehicle accidents.

Severe Maternal Morbidity: Severe maternal morbidity information shown in the dashboard uses Internal Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision, (ICD-10) Diagnostic and Procedure Codes to identify 21 indicators of unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that can result in significant short- or long-term health consequences. Calculations shown here exclude blood transfusions alone as an indicator of severe maternal morbidity

Additional Information

Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee | Texas DSHS

Texas Department of State Health Services (2024). Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report 2024, Updated October 2023. Retrieved from https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/legislative/2024-Reports/MMMRC-DSHS-Joint-Biennial-Report-2024.pdf

Texas Department of State Health Services (2022). Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report 2022, Updated October 2023. Retrieved from https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/legislative/2022-Reports/2022-MMMRC-DSHS-Joint-Biennial-Report.pdf.

Texas Department of State Health Services (2020). Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report, 2020, , revised February 2022.

Baeva, S., Saxton, D. L., Ruggiero, K., Kormondy, M. L., Hollier, L. M., Hellerstedt, J., ... & Archer, N. P. (2018). Identifying maternal deaths in Texas using an enhanced method, 2012,. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 131(5), 762-769.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, November 21). NVSS - Maternal Mortality - Evaluation of Changes. Detailed Evaluation of Changes in Data Collection Methods. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/maternal-mortality/evaluation.htm#:~:text=Maternal%20mortality%20is%20an%20important,from%20accidental%20or%20incidental%20causes