71 maternal deaths at the Hospital Central Militar (Central Military Hospital) over the 12-year period 1968-1979 were reviewed. Maternal mortality rate was 23.07% which is higher than for the rest of the population. The most frequent type of mortality was due to obstetrical causes (69.01%) and here it was infection, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and hemorrhage which were most frequent. Among nonobstetrical causes, viral hepatitis was the most frequent. Death occurred more often among young women ages 21-25 with 2-4 previous deliveries. Death was considered evitable and probably evitable in 50 cases (70.42%). Of these, 62% were the responsibility of physicians and hospitals, while the rest were attributable to the patient and the community. (author's modified)