Citation

Alfsen GC, Hernæs L. Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. 2013; 133(23/24): 2493-2497.

Vernacular Title

Døde spedbarn og ugifte kvinner - fra rettsmedisinske erklæringer 1910 - 12.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Norske Laegeforening)

DOI

10.4045/tidsskr.13.0897

PMID

24326502

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.

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