Maternity and Pediatric Nursing
5th Edition
• Author(s)Susan Scott Ricci; Terri Kyle; Susan Carman
• PublisherPublished by Wolters Kluwer Health Copyright©
2025
• Print ISBN: 9781975220419
TEST BANK
Chapter 1: The History of Maternal and
Newborn Health and Health Care
A nursing student is researching the historical impact of the
Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 for a presentation. Which
statement accurately describes the primary outcome of this
legislation?
A. It established the first professional standards for midwifery
practice in the United States.
B. It provided federal funding for states to develop programs for
mothers and infants, reducing mortality.
C. It mandated compulsory vaccination programs for children
entering public school systems.
D. It created the Title V program, which continues to fund health
services for children with special needs.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The Sheppard-Towner Act (1921-1929) was the
first major federal initiative to address the high maternal
and infant mortality rates. It provided matching funds to
states to establish prenatal and child health centers, leading
to a significant reduction in mortality.
• Incorrect A: While it involved maternal care, the act did
not specifically set standards for midwifery. Its focus was
on public health funding and infrastructure.
• Incorrect C: This act was focused on maternal and infant
health, not childhood vaccination programs, which were
managed at the state level.
• Incorrect D: The Title V program was established under
the Social Security Act of 1935, which was influenced by
but separate from the Sheppard-Towner Act.
Teaching Point: Sheppard-Towner was a landmark federal
effort that successfully reduced maternal/infant mortality
through state funding.
Citation: Ricci, S., Kyle, T., & Carman, S.
(2021). Maternity and Pediatric Nursing (5th ed.). Wolters
Kluwer. Chapter 1, The History of Maternal and Newborn
Health and Health Care.
2. Chapter 1, The History of Child Health and Child Health
Care
A pediatric nurse is explaining the evolution of child healthcare
to a family. Which 20th-century development is most
,responsible for the dramatic shift in child mortality from
infectious diseases to accidents and injuries as the leading cause
of death?
A. The passage of Medicaid and Medicare legislation.
B. The widespread use of antibiotics and immunizations.
C. The establishment of the Children’s Bureau.
D. The development of advanced pediatric surgical techniques.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The introduction of antibiotics and effective
immunizations in the mid-20th century directly led to a
profound decrease in deaths from infectious diseases like
polio, measles, and pneumonia. This shifted the leading
causes of pediatric death to congenital anomalies,
accidents, and injuries.
• Incorrect A: Medicaid and Medicare (1965) improved
access to care but came after the major decline in infectious
disease mortality.
• Incorrect C: The Children’s Bureau (1912) was crucial for
advocacy and data collection but did not directly cause the
decline in infectious diseases.
• Incorrect D: While important, surgical advances did not
have the same population-wide impact as antibiotics and
vaccines.
Teaching Point: Vaccines and antibiotics fundamentally
changed child health by controlling infectious diseases.
Citation: Ricci, S., Kyle, T., & Carman, S.
, (2021). Maternity and Pediatric Nursing (5th ed.). Wolters
Kluwer. Chapter 1, The History of Child Health and Child
Health Care.
3. Chapter 1, Mortality
The pediatric department is reviewing morbidity and mortality
data. Which statistic is the most sensitive indicator of a nation's
overall health status, according to maternal-child health experts?
A. Maternal mortality rate
B. Infant mortality rate
C. Child mortality rate (ages 1-14)
D. Adolescent mortality rate (ages 15-19)
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The infant mortality rate (number of deaths in the
first year of life per 1,000 live births) is considered a key
international benchmark because it reflects the overall
effectiveness of a country’s prenatal, obstetric, and
pediatric care, as well as socioeconomic conditions.
• Incorrect A: While critically important, the maternal
mortality rate is a specific indicator of women's health and
obstetric care, not the broader population's health.
• Incorrect C & D: These rates are important but are not the
primary indicator used for international comparisons of
overall health systems.
Teaching Point: Infant mortality rate is the most sensitive
benchmark for comparing national health status.
Citation: Ricci, S., Kyle, T., & Carman, S.
5th Edition
• Author(s)Susan Scott Ricci; Terri Kyle; Susan Carman
• PublisherPublished by Wolters Kluwer Health Copyright©
2025
• Print ISBN: 9781975220419
TEST BANK
Chapter 1: The History of Maternal and
Newborn Health and Health Care
A nursing student is researching the historical impact of the
Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 for a presentation. Which
statement accurately describes the primary outcome of this
legislation?
A. It established the first professional standards for midwifery
practice in the United States.
B. It provided federal funding for states to develop programs for
mothers and infants, reducing mortality.
C. It mandated compulsory vaccination programs for children
entering public school systems.
D. It created the Title V program, which continues to fund health
services for children with special needs.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The Sheppard-Towner Act (1921-1929) was the
first major federal initiative to address the high maternal
and infant mortality rates. It provided matching funds to
states to establish prenatal and child health centers, leading
to a significant reduction in mortality.
• Incorrect A: While it involved maternal care, the act did
not specifically set standards for midwifery. Its focus was
on public health funding and infrastructure.
• Incorrect C: This act was focused on maternal and infant
health, not childhood vaccination programs, which were
managed at the state level.
• Incorrect D: The Title V program was established under
the Social Security Act of 1935, which was influenced by
but separate from the Sheppard-Towner Act.
Teaching Point: Sheppard-Towner was a landmark federal
effort that successfully reduced maternal/infant mortality
through state funding.
Citation: Ricci, S., Kyle, T., & Carman, S.
(2021). Maternity and Pediatric Nursing (5th ed.). Wolters
Kluwer. Chapter 1, The History of Maternal and Newborn
Health and Health Care.
2. Chapter 1, The History of Child Health and Child Health
Care
A pediatric nurse is explaining the evolution of child healthcare
to a family. Which 20th-century development is most
,responsible for the dramatic shift in child mortality from
infectious diseases to accidents and injuries as the leading cause
of death?
A. The passage of Medicaid and Medicare legislation.
B. The widespread use of antibiotics and immunizations.
C. The establishment of the Children’s Bureau.
D. The development of advanced pediatric surgical techniques.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The introduction of antibiotics and effective
immunizations in the mid-20th century directly led to a
profound decrease in deaths from infectious diseases like
polio, measles, and pneumonia. This shifted the leading
causes of pediatric death to congenital anomalies,
accidents, and injuries.
• Incorrect A: Medicaid and Medicare (1965) improved
access to care but came after the major decline in infectious
disease mortality.
• Incorrect C: The Children’s Bureau (1912) was crucial for
advocacy and data collection but did not directly cause the
decline in infectious diseases.
• Incorrect D: While important, surgical advances did not
have the same population-wide impact as antibiotics and
vaccines.
Teaching Point: Vaccines and antibiotics fundamentally
changed child health by controlling infectious diseases.
Citation: Ricci, S., Kyle, T., & Carman, S.
, (2021). Maternity and Pediatric Nursing (5th ed.). Wolters
Kluwer. Chapter 1, The History of Child Health and Child
Health Care.
3. Chapter 1, Mortality
The pediatric department is reviewing morbidity and mortality
data. Which statistic is the most sensitive indicator of a nation's
overall health status, according to maternal-child health experts?
A. Maternal mortality rate
B. Infant mortality rate
C. Child mortality rate (ages 1-14)
D. Adolescent mortality rate (ages 15-19)
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The infant mortality rate (number of deaths in the
first year of life per 1,000 live births) is considered a key
international benchmark because it reflects the overall
effectiveness of a country’s prenatal, obstetric, and
pediatric care, as well as socioeconomic conditions.
• Incorrect A: While critically important, the maternal
mortality rate is a specific indicator of women's health and
obstetric care, not the broader population's health.
• Incorrect C & D: These rates are important but are not the
primary indicator used for international comparisons of
overall health systems.
Teaching Point: Infant mortality rate is the most sensitive
benchmark for comparing national health status.
Citation: Ricci, S., Kyle, T., & Carman, S.
