title: [Causes of maternal death in Pará State, Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the major causes of maternal death in the State of Pará, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, observational and retrospective study was conducted using data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) of the State Department of Public Health of Pará. SIM information was obtained using the TabWin 3.2 software and recorded in a research protocol developed by the investigators. The sample included 383 maternal deaths of 10-49-year-old women, which occurred from 2006 to 2010. Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests (χ2 and G-tests). The BioStat(r) 5.0 software was used for statistical analysis and Microsoft(r) Excel 2007 for the preparation of database and tables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Maternal Mortality Ratio was 51.9 and did not decrease significantly during the period. Most deaths occurred during the postpartum period (up to 42 days) (51.7%), and some diagnostic confirmation was used. Direct obstetric causes were dominant (90.6%), mainly hypertension (34.6%), with emphasis on eclampsia (70%), and hemorrhage (22.2%). All of these maternal deaths were avoidable (100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal death in Pará is characterized by occurring during the puerperium (up to 42 days), due mainly to direct obstetric causes, such as hypertension, with emphasis on eclampsia, and hemorrhage. This evidences the need for complete attention with good quality for pregnant women, from prenatal care to puerperium, in the state of Pará.
authors: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors: Nara Macedo
authors: NM
authors: Botelho
authors: Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors: Italo Fernando Mendonça Mota
authors: IF
authors: Silva
authors: Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors: Jessica Ramos
authors: JR
authors: Tavares
authors: Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors: Lorena Oliveira
authors: LO
authors: Lima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D063130:Maternal Death / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult