Background
Most maternal deaths and severe health outcomes during and after pregnancy are preventable. Our policymakers, researchers, and the public want more attention to this problem. We work to improve maternal health and prevent maternal deaths in Texas.
At DSHS, we use public health leadership, expertise, experience, and infrastructure
to improve mothers' and children's health and well-being. Public health prevention prolongs and saves lives. Examples of public health prevention are:
- Hypertension
that never developed;
- An obstetric hemorrhage that did not happen; and
- The
maternal death that never occurred.
Public Health Prevention
There are some key public health activities underway to study and
improve maternal health in Texas. These efforts can prevent maternal
mortality and morbidity. One
activity is the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee.
The review committee began its work in late 2014 with support from DSHS. The multidisciplinary review committee:
- Studies and reviews maternal death
cases and statewide data trends; and
- Makes recommendations impacting maternal
mortality in Texas.
Find more information and the latest review committee reports on the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee webpage.
Find other
activities related to maternal health on the Additional Maternal Health Efforts webpage.
Find more information
and statistics on maternal deaths in Texas on the
DSHS
Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Publications and Presentations webpage.
For more information or
questions, please email:
maternalhealth@dshs.texas.gov
For more information about Maternal and Child Health in Texas, please contact us at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
(512) 776-7373: Phone
(512) 458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov
External links are informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. External links may not be accessible to persons with disabilities.