[Epidemiological research of the maternal deaths and compliance with the fifth millennium development goal].

OBJECTIVE To identify and describe the epidemiological characteristics of maternal deaths that occured between 2000-2012 in a reference hospital in the state of São Paulo in order to contribute to the analysis of compliance with the fifth Millennium Development Goal. METHOD Epidemiological, retrospective and cross-sectional study with a population of 58 maternal deaths. Data were collected in the second half of 2013, through medical records and death certificates, and analyzed by SPSS version 13.0. RESULTS An average age of 29.11 years was identified, 56.9% with 1-3 previous pregnancies, 56.9% cesarean deliveries, 84.5% of maternal complications occurred during pregnancy and the postpartum period, 81% of deaths occurred in postpartum, 56.9% of deaths were classified as direct causes, with 44.8% of deaths being attributed to high blood pressure. CONCLUSION There is a need for investment in obstetric care to optimize the reduction of complications during the gestation and puerperal period, thereby influencing the reduction of maternal mortality.