To improve the health and well-being of America’s mothers, children, and families, different areas have been focused.

This report presents maternal mortality rates for 2020 based on data from the National Vital Statistics System. A maternal death is defined by the World Health Organization as, “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes” (1). Maternal mortality rates, which are the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, are shown in this report by age group and race and Hispanic origin.

This contains information on the different statistics of birth data and leading causes of death in the state of Virginia across the years 2014 - 2017.

The 2022 March of Dimes Report Card highlights the latest key indicators to describe and improve maternal and infant health. We continue to provide updated measures on preterm birth, infant mortality, low-risk Cesarean births and inadequate prenatal care. New this year is the inclusion of the Maternal Vulnerability Index (MVI), which provides county-level indicators of where women are most vulnerable to poor outcomes. We continue to monitor disparities in maternal and infant health. Comprehensive data collection and analysis of these measures inform the development of policies and programs that move us closer to health equity.

DMAS’ Maternal Health Program -Baby Steps VA – addresses the needs of both members and providers through a comprehensive framework that includes five focus areas.

The National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) provides the most complete data on births and deaths in the United States.

PRAMS, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, is a surveillance project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health departments.
Developed in 1987, PRAMS collects site-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. PRAMS surveillance currently covers about 81% of all U.S. births.

Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) are multidisciplinary committees that convene at the state or local level to comprehensively review deaths during or within a year of pregnancy (pregnancy-associated deaths). MMRCs have access to clinical and non-clinical information (e.g., vital records, medical records, social service records) to more fully understand the circumstances surrounding each death, determine whether the death was pregnancy-related, and develop recommendations for action to prevent similar deaths in the future.

The scope of the agency’s services includes ensuring food and water safety, disease and injury prevention and surveillance, emergency preparedness, health equity, and setting licensure and certification standards. As the leading public health agency in the state, the central office is located in Richmond, the state’s capital. The State Board of Health provides leadership in planning and policy development and supports VDH in implementing a coordinated, prevention-oriented program that promotes and protects the health of all Virginians. The agency is led by the State Health Commissioner, with additional oversight from deputy commissioners distributed across four main operating divisions: Public Health & Preparedness, Administration, Community Health Services, and Population Health.

CDC conducts national pregnancy-related mortality surveillance to better understand the risk factors for and causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. The Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System (PMSS) defines a pregnancy-related death as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 1 year of the end of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy.