This paper provides retrospective analysis of maternal mortality in Primorsky Region over the years 1997-2001. The authors have ascertained prevailing mortality among the pregnant women in twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy and more, as well as among parturient and puerperant women. Maternal mortality among the pregnant women in the period of less than 28 weeks was registered five times more, as compared with the all-Russian level, and took up the second place. Death rate due to abortions was lower than all-Russian rate, whereas the number of criminal abortions was larger. The most frequent causes of maternal death were bleedings, septic complications, and gestosis. According to the findings, adverse social and economic circumstances, ecological crisis resulted in increasing maternal mortality, as well. Based on the aforementioned data, the authors come to a conclusion that maternity consulting centers and therapeutics units of the outpatient departments belonging to the public health service are the most important elements responsible for prevention of the maternal mortality in the region. Furthermore, they propose some measures aimed at decreasing maternal mortality rate.