Tools

Brief Overview of State MMR or PAMR

Illinois has two maternal mortality review committees that determine factors contributing to maternal deaths and to identify potential prevention strategies. The Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) was convened in 2000 and reviews all pregnancy-associated deaths that were potentially related to pregnancy, excluding injury-related deaths. The Maternal Mortality Review Committee on Violent Deaths (MMRC-V) was convened in 2015 and reviews all pregnancy-associated deaths that are due to homicide, suicide, or drug overdose. Each multi-disciplinary committee has about 25-30 members and meets quarterly. These committees are sub-committees of the state's Perinatal Advisory Committee, and are officially charged with providing recommendations to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on issues relating to the health of mothers and infants. IDPH provides extensive administrative support to the committees, including meeting organization, distribution of materials, and case abstraction. During 2015, Illinois had 158,101 live births (including out-of-state occurrences to Illinois residents) and 93 pregnancy-associated deaths. Of these deaths, 37 were reviewed by the MMRC and 28 were reviewed by the MMRC-V. A total of 36 cases (from both committees combined) were determined to be pregnancy-related.