Objective:

To analyze the relationship between maternal mortality and socio-demographic indicators and access to health services in the Brazilian state capitals.

Methods:

Ecological study whose dependent variable was the rate of maternal mortality and the independent variables were socio-demographic indicators and access to health services, between the years 2010 to 2012. The variables were associated through the Pearson Correlation test and those variables that showed statistical significance in the bivariate analysis were included in the Multivariate Linear Regression model.

Results:

Most women who died due to pregnancy or delivery was black, single and with low education. The deaths occurred in the hospital, during the postpartum period and the most frequent cause was hypertensive disease. It occurred statistical association between maternal death and the variables: Gini index, proportion of the black population and number of prenatal consultations (p < 0.20). Relationship between maternal mortality and the black population remained in the final model (β=0.436, p = 0.003; r² = 0.72).

Conclusion:

The findings indicate the presence of gender inequality in the regions where there is a greater proportion of black population.

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