Between 2017 and 2019, 185 women died while pregnant, or within one year of pregnancy, in Missouri. The majority of these deaths were preventable, a recent study found.
Death during or soon after pregnancy is known as maternal mortality. In a three year period studied by the state, it was determined that Black women in Missouri are three times more likely to die during or in the year after pregnancy than white women. The study was done by the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review board, a state health panel.
The report published Monday shows that mental health and cardiovascular disease remain are among the leading causes of death for scores of Missouri mothers. The study focuses on deaths between 2017 and 2019. This is the first time the board has looked at data across multiple years.
