Final answer:
The decline in maternal mortality around the 1940s was due to advancements in medical science like antibiotics, improved public hygiene practices, and socioeconomic changes that led to smaller family sizes and reduced childbirth risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drop in maternal mortality around the 1940s is attributed to a variety of factors including advancements in medical science, improved hygiene practices, and broader social changes that affected family size and women's roles. Medical breakthroughs such as the development of antibiotics like penicillin in 1941 revolutionized the treatment of infections that commonly occurred during childbirth. Furthermore, public health measures to provide clean water and effective waste disposal systems, as well as the education of the public about hygiene practices like handwashing, greatly reduced the spread of disease.
Legislation such as the Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 also contributed significantly by funding well-baby clinics, educational programs, and nursing, which led to reduced infant and maternal mortality rates. Additionally, the wider availability of information about birth control, social changes, and increasing numbers of women in the workplace shifted the societal perspectives on family size and maternal responsibilities. Ultimately, these advances enabled women to have fewer children and reduced the risks associated with childbirth and pregnancy.