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 pregnancy-relatedness, the cause of death, contributing factors, and preventability. They also develop actionable recommendations to prevent future deaths.

A Snapshot of Maternal Mortality In Alabama*

For the year 2020, 49 deaths were deemed eligible for review by the MMRC.

For the year 2021, 88 deaths were deemed eligible for review by the MMRC.

AL-MMRC Key Findings for 2020-2021

• After reviewing the 137 deaths from 2020-2021, the AL-MMRC determined that 50 of the deaths were pregnancy-related.
• The leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths were infection, hemorrhage (excluding aneurysms), and cardiomyopathy. 28% of the pregnancy-related deaths were caused by COVID-19.
• 10% of pregnancy-related deaths occurred during pregnancy, 62% occurred 1-42 days postpartum, and 28% occurred 43-365 days postpartum.
• 78% of pregnancy-related deaths were determined to be preventable by the AL-MMRC.
• In 2020-2021, the pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate for Black, non-Hispanic women was 77.0. For White, non-Hispanic women, it was 28.2.

Additional information from the Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Report for 2020-2021 can be found below.

Annual Reports

• Maternal Mortality Review Report for 2020-2021
• 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

Maternal Autopsy Program

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.

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) implemented the Maternal Autopsy Program (MAP) in December 2023. 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 MAP has been expanded to include all counties in the state.

• MAP Information for Families
• MAP Information for Providers

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.