The study attempted to analyze the determinants of maternal health care services (MHCS) and their effect on infant mortality. The data used in this study was derived from Mauritania Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS 2001). The determinants of MHCS were based on a sample of 4754 women. The analysis of the effect of MHCS on infant mortality was based on all live births born five years before the survey. The socioeconomic and demographic variables studied were age of mother at birth, birth order, place of residence, region, mother's education, husband's education, mother's work status, reading newspapers, listening to radio and watching T.V. One of the main findings of the study is that women with a higher birth order are less likely to receive maternal health care services in a proper way than women with a lower birth order.  Mother's education is considered as one of the most important factors affecting the level of utilization of maternal health care services. Educated mothers are more likely to receive proper maternal health care services than uneducated ones. Mothers less than 20 years old and those who are above 35 years, i.e. the high-risk groups, are less likely to utilize the maternal health care services.