Birth Control Advocated to Decrease Maternal Mortality

Birth Control Advocated to Decrease Maternal Mortality

By Mrs. Margaret Sanger, Founder American Birth Control League

Statistics on the subject of maternal mortality are of doubtful value, but the record shows that, in 1925, 647 mothers died of every 100,000 live births.

Work to lower the death rate of mothers in child birth has been ineffective in the last 10 years, and I have advocated proper birth control as the solution of the problem.

In 1926 656 mothers in every 100,000 gave their lives. Since then there has been no decline in these figures, which include only about 76 percent of the total population of the United States.

I have been interested in this problem since 1914, and it was my interest in this particular aspect of the situation that led to the beginning of a birth-control movement. I feel now that the time has come when I can turn over to others the organization, legislative and educational features of active birth-control work.

As I have long wished to do, I will devote myself to a scientific study of the causes and cures of this terrific sacrifice of the lives of child-bearing women. I feel confident that a serious study will lead to a scientific demonstration of the fact that maternal mortality can be reduced by the application of birth-control knowledge.

Infant mortality in the United States been appreciably lowered in the last 10 years, but nothing of consequence has been accomplished in lowering the death rate of mothers.

I am preparing to spend a period of from three to five years in that collection of material, in sociological investigation and in gathering facts generally pertinent to the situation. In this work I will have the aid and co-operation of some of the foremost authorities in the world.