Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

07/08/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/08/2026 09:15

Missouri’s annual maternal mortality report published

For Immediate Release:
July 8, 2026

Media Contact:
Lisa Cox
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Media Inquiry Form

Top causes of pregnancy-related death: cardiovascular disease and mental health conditions

JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has published A Multi Year Look at Maternal Mortality in Missouri: 2019-2023 Annual Report on behalf of the state's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) Board, a multidisciplinary board of experts from across the state tasked with examining the causes and contributing factors associated with maternal mortality and ultimately forming recommendations that could prevent these deaths from occurring in the future. The report is an aggregate of five years' worth of the PAMR Board's work and is based upon the most recent data available.

The 2019-2023 report contains data, including the timing and leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths, and factors that contributed to these deaths, such as mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The report also reflects the disparities that exist in our state and among our most vulnerable populations, including our Black and publicly insured communities.

Analysis of data and related patient records indicates cardiovascular diseases and mental health conditions (including substance use disorders) were the leading underlying causes of pregnancy-related deaths, followed closely by infections (pneumonia, COVID-19, etc.). An average of 68 Missouri women died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy each year over 5 years (2019-2023), with the highest number recorded in 2020 (85 deaths).

Other key findings include the following:

From 2019-2023 (340 deaths total):

  • The pregnancy-related mortality ratio (PRMR) was 31.2 deaths per 100,000 live births.
  • The PRMR for Black women was 2.5 times the ratio of white women, similar to rates in the previous two reports.
  • The PAMR Board determined that 79% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.
  • The PAMR Board determined that all pregnancy-related deaths due to mental health conditions, including substance use disorder (SUD), were preventable.

Finally, the report includes recommendations by the Board for a variety of stakeholders as well as the Board's major accomplishments to date, some of which are listed below.

  • Built Missouri's maternal health infrastructure, including the state's first maternal mortality report, the nation's first maternal mortality dashboard and published Maternal & Neonatal Levels of Care.
  • Expanded statewide quality initiatives by establishing the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MO PQC), engaging nearly all birthing hospitals, launching clinical safety bundles and publishing progress reports.
  • Implemented major maternal health programs, supporting thousands of families through training, care access and targeted interventions.
  • Advanced maternal health policy and investment, including $4.3M in state funding, extension of Medicaid postpartum coverage and creation of behavioral health and substance use disorder support centers.
  • Strengthened statewide outreach and awareness through largescale PAMR campaigns, provider trainings, public educational efforts and distribution of wellness kits to at-risk pregnant and postpartum women.

Previous years of maternal mortality data is available online through a statewide, interactive dashboard . The 2019-2023 annual report can be viewed at Health.Mo.Gov/data/pamr .

Partner Resources:

Ask Me 5: Ask Me 5 equips both providers and patients to have meaningful conversations that can save lives.

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies: Its mission is to end preventable maternal and infant health risks by connecting women to quality healthcare and supportive resources that will provide healthy, successful pregnancy and post-partum experiences for both mom and baby.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services published this content on July 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 08, 2026 at 15:15 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]