Missouri PQC Impact

We know that healthy parents and babies are essential to a healthy Missouri. For anyone who is passionate about this mission, we invite you to join us.

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Results you can see

In the heart of Missouri, our maternal and infant health landscape calls for change. The state grapples with concerning statistics, facing higher-than-average maternal and infant mortality rates. For a more in-depth understanding, please refer to the detailed data below.

This need for transformation sparked the establishment of the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative. Comprising partners from across the state, this collaborative is dedicated to ensuring healthier outcomes for pregnant people and their infants. Together, we aim to bridge gaps in health care access and foster a community that nurtures the well-being of all Missourians.

Let’s unite our efforts to build a healthier Missouri and create a lasting legacy of health for generations to come.

Maternal care deserts are medically underserved counties across the U.S. where access to care services is insufficient. Distance to the proper facilities and resources can mean worse outcomes for pregnant people in those areas and put mothers and babies at higher risk.

41.7% of Missouri counties are defined as maternity care deserts compared to the national average of 32.6%.
10.1% of women had no birthing hospital within 30 minutes compared to 9.7% in the U.S.
15.4% of birthing people received inadequate prenatal care, greater than the U.S. average rate of 14.8%.
Women with chronic health conditions have a 54% increased likelihood of preterm birth compared to women with none.

Source: March of Dimes 2023 Maternity Care Deserts report from Missouri

An average of 70 Missouri women died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy each year, with the highest number recorded in 2020 (85 deaths).

From 2018-2020 (210 deaths total):

The pregnancy-related mortality ratio (PRMR) was 32 deaths per 100,000 live births, up from 25.2 deaths in the last multi-year report.
The PRMR for Black women was three times the ratio of white women.
84% of pregnancy-related deaths were determined to be preventable, which is 9% higher than the last multi-year report.
The greatest proportion (49%) of pregnancy-related deaths occurred between 43 days and one year after pregnancy.
Mental health conditions, including substance use disorder (SUD), were the leading underlying cause of pregnancy-related deaths, followed by cardiovascular disease and then homicides.
All pregnancy-related deaths due to mental health conditions, including SUD, were determined to be preventable.
The number of suicide deaths doubled when comparing 2017-2019 with 2018- 2020. This corresponded with an increase in the number of firearm deaths.
Women residing in metropolitan counties were almost twice as likely to die a pregnancy-related death than those residing in rural counties.
Women residing in rural counties had the highest ratio of pregnancy-associated, not related deaths (PANR) at 68 deaths per 100,000 live births. The ratio of PANR deaths for women with a Medicaid-covered pregnancy was more than 10 times greater than the ratio for those with private insurance.

Source: PAMR Review of 2018 – 2020

In collaboration with birthing hospitals and key partner organizations across the state, we are are focused on making Missouri a healthy and safe place for pregnant people and their babies at every stage of the pregnancy journey.

By taking part in these initiatives, hospitals and facilities are committing to best practices and creating better, safer communities.

Join our efforts.

INITIATIVES

Every opportunity is an opportunity to make a difference

The mission of the Missouri PQC is where we started. The ideas, partnerships and chances to make connections give us the opportunities to make a difference in communities throughout the state. Below, you’ll find a few examples of how we’re bringing our mission to life.

A woman smiling with a blood pressure cuff wrapped around her arm.

Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy

This initiative follows the AIM patient safety bundle of the same name.

A pregnant woman walking and talking with her doctor in a hallway.

Perinatal Mental Health Conditions

This initiative follows the AIM Patient Safety bundle of the same name.

A doctor placing their hands on the stomach of a pregnant woman lying in a hospital bed.

Obstetric Hemorrhage

This initiative follows the AIM patient safety bundle of the same name.

A pregnant woman sitting on a table looking at a sonogram with her doctor.

Maternal-Infant Dyad Affected by Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorder is a chronic disease that can have long-lasting effects on not only the birthing person and infant but also their family and community.

SEE ALL INITIATIVES

PARTNERS

The ones who make it all possible

None of the work we do for Missouri would be possible without the help of our partners and affiliates.

This project is supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award funded by CDC/HHS.