Severe Maternal Morbidity
The Severe Maternal Morbidity Dashboard provides Texas data on Severe Maternal Morbidity overall, by indicator, and by select demographics.
For questions about this data, send email to MCHEpi@dshs.texas.gov
Data Sources
Live Birth Data Files, Center for Health Statistics, DSHS.
Data Description
DSHS combines different data sources across many years to provide an overview of Texas maternal health. The data support programs and policymakers monitor trends and make decisions to improve the health of Texas mothers and babies.
Because of rounding, some numbers in figures, graphs, or written results may not add to the total amount. Data and results are based on the most recent data available. The dashboard is updated annually.
Race and Ethnicity: Race or ethnicity information shown in the dashboard refers to the mother, not the infant. Women who identified themselves as Hispanic were classified as Hispanic regardless of race. Women who did not identify as Hispanic were classified as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or non-Hispanic Other. The non-Hispanic Other category includes Native American, Asian, or multiracial.
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.
DSHS Campaigns and Initiatives
Learn more about what the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is doing to improve maternal health.
- Texas Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (TexasAIM)
- Hear Her Texas
- Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB)
- Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (Texas MMMRC)
Additional Information
Kilpatrick, S. K., Ecker, J. L., & American College of Obstetricians and Severe maternal morbidity: screening and review. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 215(3), B17-B22.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021, February). Severe Maternal Morbidity. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-infant-health/php/severe-maternal-morbidity/index.html [Accessed August 9, 2024].
Elliott, M., Anisha, A., McNulty, J., Gilbert, W., McNally, C., Poeltler, D., Lanner-Cusin, K., Fenton, D., Gipps, T., Melsop, K., Greene, N., Gould, J., Kilpatrick, S. (2016). Measuring severe maternal morbidity: validation of potential measures. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume (214)5, 643.e1-643.e10.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (2020). Healthy Women, Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Futures: Action Plan to Improve Maternal Health in America.
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 apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70929/1/9789241548458_eng.pdf [Accessed August 9, 2024].
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.
Texas Department of State Health Services (2022). Maternal Health and Safety Initiatives Biennial Report 2022, Retrieved from https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/legislative/2022-Reports/Maternal-Health-Safety-Initiatives-Biennial-Report-2022.pdf [Accessed August 9, 2024].