ABSTRACT
PIP: Between the years 1974 and 1979 there were 68 cases of maternal death at the maternity Prof. Monteiro de Moraes in Recife, Brazil. Maternal death is defined here as death in the pregnant-puerperal period, i.e. from the moment the woman gets pregnant to 42 days after delivery. The number of deaths went from 18/5988 live births in 1974, to 9/6051 live births in 1979. Incidence went from 30.06% in 1974 to 14.87% in 1979, with an average mortality rate of 19.02% over the 5 year period. The greater number of deaths occurred in the age group 20-24, and the lowest in the age group 40-44. 75% of deaths were among unmarried women, 70% among native Indian women, and 94.12% among indigent patients. Deaths were more frequent at first delivery, and 64.71% occurred within the first 24 hours after hospitalization. 16.18% of deaths occurred in patients who had arrived at hospital in very serious conditions.^ieng
