Midwifery in Denmark - Paper Delivered at the Fifth Annual Conference of State Directors in Charge of the Local Administration of the Maternity and Infancy Act - 1928

Sep 21, 2026

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Midwifery in Denmark presents a 1928 paper describing Denmark’s maternity safeguards and low maternal mortality through a midwife-led system. It explains that normal deliveries across the kingdom are handled by trained, licensed, and state-supervised midwives. The paper links effectiveness to reduced puerperal fever, citing long-term declines in reported cases and presenting comparative rate differences against the United States (birth-registration area). It includes table data and administrative context from Denmark’s National Board of Health, highlighting antiseptics and aseptics as key knowledge areas.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Midwifery in Denmark

Denmark’s midwife system and state supervision

Puerperal fever trends and outcomes

Comparison with the United States

Table data and reported rates

97-84096-24Mendenhall,Dorothy Reed Midwifery in Denmark Washington 1929 # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISION BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD | 303
Z
Mendenhall,Mrg.Dorothy Mabel(Reed)1874-
Dox 300
…Midwifery in Denmark,by Dorothy Reed Mendenhall ….
Washington,U.S.Govt.print.off.,1929.
1 p.1,14 p.23=.
At head of title:U.S.Department of labor.James J.Davis,secre-
tary.Chlldren's bureau.Grace Abbott,chlef.
"Paper dellvered at the fifth annunl Conference of state directors in
charge of the local administratlon of the Maternity and infaney act,
1928."
ANOTHER COPY IN MEDICAL LIBRARY
1.MIdwlves—Denmark I.U.8.Chfldren's burenu.1I.TItle.
L29-145
Labor RG964.D4M5
LIbrary,U.S.Dept.of
30b3₁
19 cf¹ | | --- | RESTRICTIONS ON USE: Reproductions may not be made without permission fom Columbia University Libraries. TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE:35m 10:/ IB MAGE PLACEMENT:IA REDUCTION RATIO: IB DATE FILMED:5-22-97他 NITIALS: TBACKING\#:MSH2142 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. 1 人 0 | NUV 4一
U.S.DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
JAMES J.DAVIS,Secretary
CHILDREN'S BUREAU
GRACE ABBOTT.Chief | | --- | | MIDWIFERY IN DENMARK
By
DOROTHY REED MENDENHALL,M.D.
Paper Delivered at the Fifth Annual Conerence of
State Directors in Charge of the Local Admipistration
of the Maternity and Infaney Aet,1928
308
UNITED STATES
COVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINCTON:1929
13o× 300
Z | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | This book is due on the date indicated below,or at the
expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing.
as provided by the rules of the Library or by special ar-
rangement with the Librarian in charge. | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | DATE BORROWED | DATE DUE | DATE BORROWED | DATE DUE | | | | | S LOAN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | czeies81no | | | | MIDWIFERY IN DENMARK By DoROTHY RD MENDENHALI,M.D. It was my good fortune to have the opportunity of revisitingDenmark in the spring of 1926 after a lapse of over 30 yearsTheimpressions of youth are often dispelled as illusions when reap-praised by eyes more accustomed to seeing below the surface ofthings,but my early impression of Copenhagen as the original of“spotless town”was strengthened by my second visit,while newpoints of excellence kept constantly appearing.To my more criti-cal adult eyes the orderliness of Copenhagen seemed even more strik-ing than the cleanliness.System and simplicity seemed to be thekeynote of governmental activities,including the health program ofthe Government. Knowing that Denmark shares the admiration the medical worldawards Scandinavia for the safeguards thrown about maternity,Iwas eager to find out,if I could,why this country has such a uni-formly low maternal mortality rate.With this in mind,I paid avisit to the office of what corresponds to the State board of healthto learn where I could best find out about the obstetrical proceduresof this part of Scandinavia.There I had the good fortune to meetDr.G.Tryde,the president of the National Board of Health,andDr.H.J.Hansen,the chief statistician.Both these physicians speakEnglish and are conversant with the American medical situation.Doctor Hansen,indeed,had just returned from a visit to the UnitedStates. After many inquiries on my part and offers from them of printedmaterial for future reference,I realized that normal deliveriesthroughout the kingdom are left to midwives and apparently havebeen for so many years that it has beconie the accustomed way ofhandling mate

FAQs

How are normal deliveries handled in Denmark, according to the paper?

Normal deliveries throughout the kingdom are left to midwives, a system that has been established for many years. Midwives are trained, licensed, and supervised under state control.

What evidence does the paper use to support the value of midwifery?

The paper points to the low incidence of puerperal fever and its decline since 1900. It cites reported cases falling substantially over the period from 1890 to 1922.

How does Denmark’s experience compare with the United States in the paper?

The paper reports that mortality rates from puerperal septicemia in Denmark were less than half the rates from the same cause in the United States birth-registration area during 1920–1926. It notes a broadly similar pattern of rate differences across those years.

Sep 21, 2026

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