[Maternal deaths in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: perceptions of quality of care and preventability].

Objective: To analyze maternal deaths in Belo Horizonte from 2003 to 2010 based on the perception of family members of women who died from pregnancy-related causes.

Methods: Maternal deaths were researched at the City of Belo Horizonte Department of Health's Maternal, Fetal, and Infant Death Prevention Committee. Family members of deceased women were recruited by telephone or personally.