title: Dead infants and unmarried women--from forensic pathology reports 1910-12.
abstract: The lack of access to contraceptives and poor control over their own pregnancies represented a major problem for women 100 years ago. An unwanted pregnancy could lead to social exclusion and loss of paid work, and clandestine births and infanticide thus posed a social problem. A review of the archives of the Norwegian Board of Forensic Medicine in the period 1910 to 1912 shows that one-fifth of all expert opinions were related to infants and pregnancy. Autopsies performed on children constituted over one-third of all forensic autopsies during this period. Although the reports provide a timely reminder of the value of hard-earned rights in Norway, the lack of control over their own sexuality and unwanted pregnancies are unfortunately still the reality for a large proportion of the world's women.
authors: G Cecilie
authors: GC
authors: Alfsen
authors: Lotte
authors: L
authors: Hernæs
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007086:Illegitimacy / Q000266:history*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007237:Infanticide / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D012847:Single Person / Q000266:history*