ABSTRACT
PIP: A study was carried out from 1957-1977 which investigated the incidence of maternal mortality in the Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto. The yearly distribution of these deaths related to the resolution of pregnancy always showed predominance of the abortion group over the others (pregnant patients, normal delivery, and surgical delivery), with increased evidence starting at the beginning of the 1970's. When the deaths were distributed by relating pregnancy resolution to marital status, absolute predominance of married over single patients was observed, including the abortion group. When the site of the 21st obstetrical aid was considered, it was observed that in 17 of 68 cases studied, the patients were directed to another hospital or delivered at home assisted by a midwife. The mortality rate for the entire period studied was 22.04%. When the cases receiving 1st obstetrical aid outside the Hospital das Clinicas are subtracted, the rate drops to 16.53% and to 8.1% when the abortion group is also excluded. On the basis of these data, it was concluded that abortion is the greatest medical-social problem detected in this study.^ieng