WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MOTHERS AND BABIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - By Dorothy Reed Mendenhall, M.D. - 1928

Sep 28, 2026

Statistical and field inquiry examines maternity and infant care conditions in Washington, District of Columbia, beginning with analysis of birth and infant-death certificates for 1925 and maternal-death certificates for 1925–1926. The study compares District patterns with U.S. census birth-registration figures and selected city data, while also gathering information through interviews, questionnaires, and visits to child-health, prenatal, and maternity hospitals. Findings address infant mortality trends, including rates by color, and frame the basis for evaluating services and recommending actions to safeguard mothers and young children.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Why and How the Study Was Made

How Many Babies Die in Washington?

Table 1—Comparison of infant mortality rates by color, 1915-1926

97-84071-6Mendenhall,Dorothy Reed What is happening tomothers and babies...Washington 1928 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED·EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD RESTRICTIONS ON USE: Roproductions may not be made without pemission from Coiumbla University Libraries. TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mREDUCTION RATIO: 10:/ MAGE PLACEMENT:IA DATE FILMED: /INITIALS: L MSH 23558 TRACKING\#: FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. | U.S.DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
JAMES J.DAVIS,Secetary
CHILDREN'S BUREAU
GRACE ABBOTT.Chhd | | --- | | WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MOTHERS
AND BABIES IN THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA?
By
DOROTHY REED MENDENHALL,M.D.
38
212 | | UNITED STATES
COVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON
1928 | 86l 6 -AY CONTENTS PageWhy and how the study was made..1How many babies die in Washington?1How many mothers die in childbirth in Washington?6Sections of Washington where high death ratesshow greatest needfoprenatal and infant eare_------9How to reduce the death rates of mothers andbabies---15What Washington is doing for mothers and babies----18Recommendations_-- --26III # WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MOTHERS AND BABIES INTHE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHY AND HOW THE STUDY WAS MADE Some months ago the Washington Council of Social Agenciesrequested the United States Children’s Bureau to make a brief sur-vey of the conditions relative to maternity and infancy in the Districtof Columbia.After conferring with the health officer of the Districtand obtaining his approval and cooperation for such a survey theChildren's Bureau began a study to determine if possible how farthe problem of maternity and infancy care is adequately met and inwhat direction an expansion of effort should be made to meet thefurther need for safeguarding the lives and health of mothers andyoung children. For such a brief review of the situation as was contemplated itwas thought best to confine the statistical study to an analysis ofthe birth and infant-death certificates of one year,and 1925 wasselected because it was the latest year for which Census Bureaufigures of births and infant deaths had been published.As deathof the mother is closely a88ociated with death of the infant the cer-tificates of deaths due to causes connected with childbirth were alsostudied.The birth and infant-death certificates for 1925 and thematernal-death certificates for 1925 and 1926 were copied at theBureau of Vital Statistics of the Department of Health of the Dis-trict.United States census figures are used in comparing Districtconditions in 1925 with those in other years,and conditions in theDistrict with those in the United States birth-registration ares orwith those in cities having sufficiently large numbers of colored birthsannually to make comparison valid. A visit was made by a Children's Bureau physician to each of thechild-health centers,prenatal centers,and hospitals taking mater-nity cases in the District.Physicians,nurses,and social workersdirecting work pertaining to maternity and infancy were interviewedas far as was possible.Questionnaires covering the work of 1925 and1926 were sent to all hospitals taking obstetrical cases;and thelatest printed reports were obtained,when possible,for all prenatal,child-hygiene,and maternity-hospital work done in the District ofColumbia.The questionnaires,letters,reports,and interviews weretabulated and analyzed.The results so obtained were used with thestatistical analyses in evaluating the service offered in Washingtonfor the protection of maternity and infancy. # HOW MANY BABIES DIE IN WASHINGTON? From 1915 to 1926,inclusive,there has been a very appreciabledecrease in the infant mortality rate(deaths of infants under 1 yearof age per 1,000 live births)in the Distriet of Columbia amo

FAQs

Why was the study of maternity and infancy conditions in Washington conducted?

The Washington Council of Social Agencies requested the U.S. Children’s Bureau to survey maternity and infancy conditions to determine how well care needs were being met and what expansion of effort might be required.

Which records were analyzed for infant and maternal outcomes?

The study analyzed birth and infant-death certificates for one year (1925) and also studied maternal-death certificates for 1925 and 1926, copied from the District’s Bureau of Vital Statistics.

How does the document describe infant mortality trends in the District of Columbia?

It reports a substantial decrease in infant mortality from 1915 to 1926 for both colored and white infants, and it presents 1927 tentative figures suggesting a further marked decline, with rates also separated by color.

Sep 28, 2026

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