In 1847, Ignaz Semmelweis drastically reduced childbed fever deaths at Vienna General Hospital by ordering doctors to wash hands in chlorine. Despite clear evidence, he faced backlash due to the lack of a scientific explanation, leading to a career-defining struggle.
In 1847, Ignaz Semmelweis drastically reduced childbed fever deaths at Vienna General Hospital by having doctors wash hands in chlorine. Despite clear evidence, he faced backlash for lacking a scientific explanation, leading to a tragic end and delayed adoption of his life-saving practice.
Pregnant women in the Democratic Republic of Congo are increasingly avoiding hospitals due to fear of Ebola, leading to a rise in maternal deaths. Health workers report a significant drop in prenatal consultations and concerns about dangerous home births, potentially creating a second health crisis alongside the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
A study by University of Cambridge researchers reviewing 44 existing studies found that Black women experience higher levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and uteroplacental vascular resistance during pregnancy—physiological pathways linked to pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and foetal growth restrictions. The researchers conclude these differences are not genetic but result from socioenvironmental stressors including systemic racism and socioeconomic deprivation. Black women in the UK are 2.7 times more likely to die during childbirth and Black babies are twice as likely to be stillborn compared to white counterparts.
