Demographic differentials in births assisted by trained midwives in Nineteenth-Century Sweden: What difference did it make for infant survival?

OBJECTIVES

This study examines the influence of social and demographic factors on the utilization of trained midwives in Sweden during the latter half of the nineteenth century. It also examines differences in neonatal, post-neonatal, and child mortality between births attended by trained midwives and those without such assistance.

METHODS

The analysis is based on population data covering 116,597 births. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between midwifery, background characteristics, and mortality outcomes.

RESULTS

The findings reveal substantial regional variation in the use of trained midwives throughout the study period. Births attended by trained midwives were more common among high-risk births and among married women compared to unmarried women. Regarding mortality, the results show an increased risk of post-neonatal mortality during the first period (1860-1869), and a decreased risk of neonatal mortality during the final period (1890-1894).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the evolving role of trained midwives in childbirth practices in 19th-century Sweden and their contribution to reducing infant mortality, which coincided with the introduction of antiseptic methods from 1880 onward.