title: [Epidemiological research of the maternal deaths and compliance with the fifth millennium development goal].
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Beatriz Boleta
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil.
authors.forename: Flávia Baluz Bezerra de Farias
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Santos
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Prudêncio
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Villela
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Mamede
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057217:Economic Development; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D063130:Maternal Death / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014480:United Nations; D055815:Young Adult