Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Program

The Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) is a multi-disciplinary committee that reviews deaths that occur during and within one year of pregnancy. The committee determines the cause of death, contributing factors, and preventability. They also develop actionable recommendations to prevent future deaths. The MMRC has found that approximately 50 percent of maternal deaths did not have an autopsy performed. Numerous recommendations have been made by the committee regarding the necessity of an autopsy in determining causes of and contributors to maternal mortality.

Maternal Autopsy Program

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) implemented the Maternal Autopsy Program in December 2023. Currently, the coroners in Baldwin, Jefferson, Madison, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Shelby, and Walker counties participate in the Maternal Autopsy Program. Family members of women who died during pregnancy or up to a year after pregnancy are offered a complete autopsy free of charge if there is no one to perform the autopsy in their area, or they cannot afford one. The complete autopsies are performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham or the University of South Alabama, with transportation provided through Mack Mortuary Transport Services. The Maternal Autopsy Program has been expanded to include all counties in the state.

A Snapshot of Maternal Mortality In Alabama*

For the year 2018, 51 deaths were deemed eligible for review by the MMRC.

For the year 2019, 42 deaths were deemed eligible for review by the MMRC.

AL-MMRC Key Findings for 2018-2019

• After reviewing the 93 deaths from 2018-2019, the AL-MMRC determined that 24 of the deaths were pregnancy-related.
• The leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths were infection, cardiovascular, and hemorrhage.
• 25% of pregnancy-related deaths occurred during pregnancy, 50 % were pregnant within 42 days of death, and 25% were pregnant 43 days to 1 year before death.
• 15 of the 24 pregnancy-related deaths were determined to be preventable by the AL-MMRC.
• In 2018, the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black, non-Hispanic women was 33.6. For White, non-Hispanic women, it was 17.4. In 2019, the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black, non-Hispanic women was 26.9. For White, non-Hispanic women, it was 17.5.

Additional information from the Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Report for 2018-2019 can be found below.

Annual Reports

• Maternal Mortality Review Report for 2018-2019
• Maternal Mortality Review Report for 2016-2017
• 2016 Maternal Mortality Review Report
• 2016 AL-MMRC Recommendations
• 2016 MMR Fact Sheet

Additional Resources

• More About the AL-MMRC
• Resources for Expecting Moms and Those Planning to Become Pregnant

*Historical references to data provided by the Center for Health Statistics may not align with data provided by the MMRP prior to program implementation.

¹ Health Rankings: Pregnancy

HEAR HER Campaign

CDC's Division of Reproductive Health launched the HEAR HER Concerns Campaign to improve communication between providers and patients and increase awareness of warning signs of pregnancy complications.

Pregnant now or within the last year? Learn the urgent maternal warning signs and what to do if you experience them.

Healthcare professionals: You can help prevent maternal mortality.

View educational materials, including the poster pictured here.