Maternal Mortality
The United States has the highest maternal mortality ratio among high-income countries. The Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee looks at each death of a woman that occurs between pregnancy and up to one year postpartum, to identify whether the death was related to pregnancy, what factors contributed, and how it could be prevented.
41
pregnancy-related deaths
per 100,000 live births
in Arkansas
(2018-2021)
1.2x
higher maternal mortality rate for
non-Hispanic Black women compared to
non-Hispanic White women
(2018-2021)
of pregnancy-related deaths
were considered preventable
by the Arkansas MMRC
(2018-2021)
Maternal Deaths
Women in the United States are more likely to die from problems related to pregnancy and birth than women in other high-income countries. A pregnancy-related death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within one year of the end of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management. Between 2018 and 2021, there were 59 pregnancy-related deaths in Arkansas. Reducing maternal deaths is a Healthy People 2030 goal.
About These Data
Data about the causes and preventability of maternal deaths in Arkansas are obtained from the legislative reports published by the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC). The Arkansas MMRC is a multidisciplinary committee whose members represent various medical and social services roles that interact with and impact maternal health. The Arkansas MMRC looks at each death of female Arkansas residents that occurs between pregnancy and up to one year postpartum, to identify whether the death was related to pregnancy, what factors contributed, and how it could be prevented. The MMRC reports aggregate data over multiple years to preserve individual privacy.
What These Data Tell Us
The Arkansas MMRC collects detailed information on each maternal death occurring in the state to create a comprehensive review and analysis based on maternal and neonatal death certificates, neonatal birth certificates, patient medical records, autopsy reports, and other data such as obituaries, police reports, and social media. The Arkansas MMRC examines the cause of death and contributing factors to determine whether the death was preventable and makes recommendations and actions to address contributing factors in accordance with guidance from the CDC’s Maternal Mortality Review Information Application (MMRIA). However, the comprehensive process is time-intensive, resulting in significant lag between the occurrence of maternal deaths and the MMRC report. This scorecard provides data from years included in the most recent MMRC reports.
Comparing the distribution of characteristics between all births in Arkansas and maternal deaths can help identify disproportionately-impacted groups. Black and Asian or Pacific Islander women represent a larger share of maternal deaths than all births. Patients who self-pay also represent a larger share of maternal deaths than births.
Source(s): Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee Legislative Report, 2023 and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Natality on CDC WONDER Online Database. Data are from the Natality Records 2016-2022, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Some values may be suppressed due to privacy protections; missing or unknown values may be excluded
Select characteristics below:
Source(s): Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee Legislative Report, 2023
Select characteristics below:
Medical conditions can cause severe pregnancy complications that lead to maternal deaths. Starting prenatal care early, seeing a healthcare provider throughout the pregnancy, and attending postpartum visits can help to identify and treat severe pregnancy-related complications and prevent maternal deaths.
Causes of Pregnancy-Related Maternal Deaths in Arkansas (2018-2020)
Source(s): Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee Legislative Report, 2023.
Non-medical factors, such as mental health and substance use, can contribute to complications that lead to maternal deaths. Maternity care providers can monitor the physical and emotional health and well-being of mothers during prenatal and postpartum visits to monitor and manage risk factors in maternity patients and ensure mothers receive timely medical and social support.
Evaluation of Common Risk Factors and Their Contribution to Maternal Deaths in Arkansas (2018-2020)
Source(s): Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee Legislative Report, 2023.
Pregnancy-related complications, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertensive disorders, heavy bleeding, infections, and mental health conditions can lead to maternal deaths during and up to one year after pregnancy. In Arkansas, two-thirds of pregnancy-related deaths occur during or within 42 days of pregnancy. Timely prenatal and postpartum checkups allow maternity patients and their care providers to monitor and manage warning signs of serious physical and mental health problems, which can prevent maternal death.
Timing of Maternal Deaths in Arkansas (2018-2021)
Source(s): Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee Fact Sheet, 2024.
