[Stillbirth: historical aspects and current state of the problem]

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Forensic Medicine
• Pathological Anatomy

Context:

• Historical review of stillbirth literature from the early 20th century.
• Identifies persistent challenges in stillbirth management and prevention.
• Highlights the relevance of historical issues to contemporary stillbirth problems.

Purpose:

• To summarize and systematize global literature on stillbirth.
• To analyze the historical context of stillbirth criteria, antenatal care, and medical education.
• To examine the role of forensic and coroner's autopsies in stillbirth investigations.

Summary:

• The article reviews early 20th-century literature on stillbirth, addressing the need for unified criteria and improved antenatal care.
• It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive medical training for stillbirth prevention.
• Forensic and coroner's autopsy procedures for fetuses and newborns are discussed in relation to stillbirth.

Impact:

• Underscores the long-standing nature of stillbirth challenges.
• Stresses the critical need for integrating obstetrics, gynecology, and pathological anatomy knowledge into forensic medical practice.
• Provides a historical perspective to inform current strategies for stillbirth reduction and investigation.