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Changes in Obstetric Practice in Our Time
Author(s) -
Ratten Graeme J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1985.tb00735.x
Subject(s) - medicine , forceps delivery , caesarean section , obstetrics , forceps , perinatal mortality , caesarean delivery , septic abortion , maternal mortality rate , abortion , mortality rate , pregnancy , vaginal delivery , surgery , fetus , population , health services , genetics , environmental health , biology
Summary: In the years since 1939 there has been a marked change in the nature and results of obstetric practice at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne. The noteworthy changes have been a reduction in the number of maternal deaths (from 12.2 per 1,000 in the 1940's to 0.2 per 1,000 in the 1980's), especially those due to septic abortion, and an increase in the Caesarean section rate (from 2% to 14%). The increase in the operative delivery rate has been matched by a decrease in mortality in patients thus delivered, the maternal and perinatal mortality rates changing from 5.5 and 88.9 per 1,000 to 0 and 7.6 per 1,000 respectively in the case of forceps delivery and from 24.7 and 162.5 per 1,000 to 0.15 and 10.6 per 1,000 respectively in the case of Caesarean delivery.