Introduction Maternal mortality is a tragic death, and is perceived as a sensitive indicator of the socioeconomic
status and healthcare services in a given country. In this study, the relationship between maternal deaths and factors
such as socioeconomic development and the proportion of medical professionals in Iran was examined.
Methods This was an ecological study, where three main groups of data based on different provinces were applied.
Data included maternal mortality ratio, the proportion of medical professionals and socioeconomic variables, such as
urban residency, unemployment and literacy. Data were obtained from various sources, including census returns, the
Family Unit at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran and the Iran Medical Council. Data were analysed
using univariate and multivariate methodologies.
Results Multivariate analysis showed a significant inverse relationship between maternal deaths and variables of male
literacy (p < 0.001) and unemployment (p = 0.04). A marginally significant association was also found between maternal
deaths and the proportion of midwives (p = 0.09).
Conclusion Our findings underscore the role of literacy, particularly male literacy, in the prevention of maternal
deaths. Iran, as a male-dominated society, could benefit from targeting men for training programmes to enhance the
health of their families, and ultimately, that of the society. As economic status does play a role in maternal deaths, there
is a need to strengthen the financial situation of families. The number of skilled medical personnel available in a population
also plays a key role in reducing maternal deaths.