Everyone deserves the right to a safe and healthy birth. However, the reality is that many in our state face difficulty in attaining this right. Maternal mortality reflects not only the health of individual mothers but also the health of communities as a whole. 

In our state Black (67.5 deaths per 100,000 live births) and Indigenous women (58.9 deaths per 100,000 live births) are over 3x as likely to die from childbirth or childbirth-related complications than their White counterparts (21.2 deaths per 100,000 live births). In the face of these alarming statistics, it is crucial to delve deeper into the root causes of these disparities and work towards a more equitable healthcare system for all. 

To understand these statewide disparities, the Oklahoma Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) was established in 2019. The MMRC releases an annual report detailing maternal mortality statistics for the state at a 3 year rolling rate, the most recent MMRC Report includes data from 2019-2021. 

The most recent report includes recommendations to promote self-advocacy efforts by pregnant women and their families, adopt Team Birth initiatives, and increase “utilization of SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) to improve identification of individuals in need of referral for substance use intervention and treatment”.