Perfil epidemiológico da mortalidade materna na Região Nordeste do Brasil entre 2013 e 2023

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological profile of maternal deaths in the Northeast Region of Brazil between 2013 and 2023. METHOD: Ecological descriptive time-series study using secondary data from the Mortality Information System (SIM/DATASUS). Maternal deaths among women aged 10–49 years occurring between 2013 and 2023 were analyzed according to sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric causes, timing, and place of death. RESULTS: A total of 4,977 maternal deaths were recorded in the Northeast Region, with an average maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 57.2 deaths per 100,000 live births. The MMR declined from 58.8/100,000 in 2013 to 46.8/100,000 in 2019, increased in 2020 and 2021 (92.7/100,000), and decreased to 46.6/100,000 in 2023. Deaths were concentrated among women aged 30–39 years (41.1%), mixed-race and Black women (79.2%), single women (46.0%), and those with 8–11 years of schooling (36.8%). Piauí had the highest MMR (76.3/100,000) and Pernambuco the lowest (50.6/100,000). Direct obstetric causes (65.7%), postpartum deaths within 42 days (66.4%), and hospital deaths (90.9%) predominated. CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality in Northeastern Brazil varied across states and was concentrated among mixed-race and Black, single, reproductive-age women, with a predominance of direct obstetric causes and postpartum and hospital deaths. The findings underscore the importance of maternal mortality surveillance.