Obstetrics: education and practice in Sydney, 1870-1939: part 1.

The development of obstetric education in Sydney, 1870-1939. is presented in two parts: part 1 looks at the education of nurses and part 2 looks at the education of doctors and their practice of midwifery. Maternal mortality remained stubbornly high until the late 1930's. Reformers urged better education as the solution to the "problem" of maternal mortality. It is suggested that the established maternity care system very probably limited such benefits as came from better education.