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Identifying Maternal Deaths in Texas Using an Enhanced Method, 2012
Sonia Baeva1, Debra L Saxton, Karen Ruggiero
1Division for Community Health Improvement, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and the Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|April 10, 2018
Summary
An enhanced method for identifying maternal deaths in Texas revealed a significantly lower maternal mortality ratio than previously reported. This improved approach, using data matching and record review, offers more accurate vital statistics for maternal health surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Accurate estimation of maternal mortality ratios (MMR) is crucial for public health surveillance.
- Traditional methods relying solely on obstetric cause-of-death codes may overestimate MMR due to coding inaccuracies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply an enhanced method for identifying maternal deaths in Texas for the year 2012.
- To compare the MMR estimated by the enhanced method with that derived from the standard method using only obstetric codes.
Main Methods:
- A population-based descriptive study was conducted.
- Data matching and record review were employed to verify pregnancy status within 42 days of death for 147 cases with obstetric codes.
- Additional maternal deaths were identified using data matching.
Main Results:
- Fifty-six maternal deaths were confirmed.
- The enhanced method yielded a 2012 Texas MMR of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 live births.
- The standard method overestimated MMR, with nearly half of obstetric-coded deaths lacking evidence of recent pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- Sole reliance on obstetric codes is insufficient for accurate MMR estimation.
- An enhanced method incorporating data matching and record review provides more precise maternal mortality data.
- Findings suggest potential inaccuracies in state-level MMR reporting nationwide due to miscoding.
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