The Decline in Maternal Mortality in Sweden: the Role of Community Midwifery

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2004 Jul 31

PMID 15284032

Citations 27

Authors

Ulf Hogberg

Affiliations

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Abstract

The maternal mortality rate in Sweden in the early 20th century was one third that in the United States. This rate was recognized by American visitors as an achievement of Swedish maternity care, in which highly competent midwives attend home deliveries. The 19th century decline in maternal mortality was largely caused by improvements in obstetric care, but was also helped along by the national health strategy of giving midwives and doctors complementary roles in maternity care, as well as equal involvement in setting public health policy. The 20th century decline in maternal mortality, seen in all Western countries, was made possible by the emergence of modern medicine. However, the contribution of the mobilization of human resources should not be underestimated, nor should key developments in public health policy.

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