[Maternal deaths at a public maternity Hospital in Fortaleza: an epidemiological study]

The objectives of this study were to analyze the maternal deaths, which occurred in a public maternity hospital in Fortaleza, Ceara State, Brazil and identify associations between time of death and the cases. An analysis was performed on the medical records, death certificates and notification forms regarding 96 maternal deaths that occurred between 2000 and 2008. The most prevalent delivery type was cesarean section (45, 46.8%) and the most prevalent causes of death were: hypertensive syndrome (27, 28.1%), infection (17, 17.7%) and hemorrhage (16, 16.7%). There was a statistically significant association between: cesarean section, hypertension syndrome and infection (x²=14.40, p=0.00; x²=4.02, p=0.04); deaths in the postpartum period and hypertensive syndrome (x²=6.13, p=0.01) and infection (x²=7.65, p=0.00). The characterization of these deaths helps in the recognition of groups at risk, and in developing preventive measures.