A new state report shows from 2017 to 2021, 349 women died in Missouri during or after giving birth. The report, released by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said the leading underlying cause of death during childbirth was heart problems, followed by mental health conditions.
Ashlie Otto is a registered nurse specialist with the department.
“We typically don’t see individuals in the 20 year old range that has issues with their heart already,” said Otto. “That pregnancy provides them an opportunity to have additional contact with the healthcare system. And so, sometimes that’s when the condition is caught. Or maybe yes, the pregnancy itself. Whether it be that individual had a higher increase for hypertension during pregnancy. So, high blood pressure. Sometimes that can lead to a condition that’s called cardiomyopathy. What that is, is a weakening of the heart muscles. You will note in our report that half of these deaths are due to cardiomyopathy.”
The report also finds that 77% of all Missouri pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.
The pregnancy-related death ratio for Black women was 2.5 times the ratio of white women – a decline from the previous three annual reports.
“We are seeing that consistent decrease, but what we have also noted as well, when we’re looking at the graph, is that it’s not necessarily that the ratio has decreased for our black moms, but that, in fact, our ratio has increased for our white moms,” said Otto.
The report also found that women living in smaller urban counties had the highest ratio of pregnancy-related deaths, compared to the metropolitan areas. This is a shift from prior reports showing women living in metropolitan counties had the highest ratio.
According to Otto, the northeast part of Missouri had the highest ratio of pregnancy-related deaths.
“What that, then, at least from my public health standpoint, is I look at, okay, we know that there’s maternal maternity care deserts in that area. But also, like, what other supports and what other connections can we make in order to improve these rates in that area,” she asked.
To view the report, click here.
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