HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1924, Page 2

HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY.

STIGMA ON DOMINION

MINISTER OF HEALTH REVIEWS

POSITION

WELLINGTON, May 1. An important statement in regard to the maternal mortality rate in New Zealand, as compared with that in other countries, and what the Health Department is doing to grapple with the problem, was made by Sir .Maui l’omare, Minister for Health. “In the preparation of the Departmental annual report, several important facts, from a statistical point of view, have been brought into prominence.” states the Minister. "These facts are so impressive that it is considered they should be placed before the public in a general statement, and not left to be recorded, and perhaps buried, in the annual report. “While the vital statistics of Now Zealand generally compare more than favourably with those of other conn- -4 tries, in certain respects we do nor occupy a particularly sound position, anti, indeed, seem to he lagging behind. For some time past it has been known, to our shame, that despite many advantages, social and economic tlu> Dominion labours under the stig—ilia of a comparatively high maternal mortality rate. In proportion to its population more women die as a result of child-birth, in this country than in many other countries which have not the advantages that we possess. The table shows a New Zealand mortality rate of 5.1 per 1090, Denmark is lowest with 2 per 1090, and Belgium and Chile are highest with 7.2 and 7.0 Australia has 4.7.

“Again, while New Zealand is justly proud of the record that it possesses with the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, close inspection ot the figures show that there is still much to lie done, and that New Zealand is even far behind other countries, In certain spheres of infant welfare work. The reduction in the infant mortality rate in New Zealand has been wholly due to the saving ot infantlife after the age of one month, an accomplishment due in no small measure to the excellent work inaugur, ated and directed by Dr Truby King. The death rate of infants under one month in this country, however, is still (for year 1923) 29 per 1009 of live births, and lias shown practically no reduction since the Blanket Society commenced its work in 1907, when the rate was 39 per 1990.

“In a recent 4 report, which the Health Department received from Dr C. ,]. Rrenkman, Chief of tlie Medical Statistical Department of the Municipal Health Service of Amsterdam, it is shown that the death rate of infants under one year in that city is 59 per 1099 births, as against 42 per 1099 (in the year 1922) in New Zealand. So far this is satisfactory, but, when it is noted that the death rate of infants under one month is as low as 13 per 1909 births in Amsterdam as against 27 per 1999 births in Now Zealand in 1922 and 29 per 1099 births in 1923, it causes one to pause.

"Closely allied in its causes with Ike death-rate under one month is mass of still births which occurs ,m----siuallv in the Dominion. Still-births have hecn notiliah'e since lillo. Ihe rate of still births for the year 1923 was :.l per 1939 live births, a higher fig' ire than any previously recorded. “These three groups of figures show New Zealand in a most unfavourable light. It i< obvious that the present methods are not clfeelive and do not provide a solution ol the problem. New measures must be devised. T'lio problem is one which concerns primarily the general public and medical and nursing professions, and the remedy would appear to lie ratliec in their hands titan with the Department of Health. It can be reasonably expected that better treatment of the expectant mother and higher skill on the part i.f attendants at. the time ot l.i ith and immediately afterwards would reduce these rales very nmteriallv.

"The present tendency in New Zealand is for an ever-increasing number of i iinfiiicinents to take place in private hospitals. At present approximately one-third of- all births take place in these institutions. The hospitalisation of this class of patient is not unnerrliipanied by serious risk to the mother unless the standard of equipment ami the efficiency of the institution are of a high order. It must lie admitted that, in some eases, private hospital* do not attain this standard, for the reason that The capital cost involved is beyond the means of the licensee. Many hospital hoards have established, in connection with public hospitals, maternity wards or separate maternity institutions, which are doing excellent work. The equipment and standard ol efficiency of these institutions leave little to he desired. The Department, as opportunity offers, will continue to urge hospital hoards to extend facilities available in this wav for the care and

attention of maternity cases. v "The Department is also considering other means of dealing with the situation, hut, in the meantime, the facts are such as to call for considerable searching of heart on the part of the public generally, and on the part of the medical and nursing professions more particularly. The Department does not wish in any way to evade it- own responsibilities. It admits that, a* regards a fraction of maternity deaths, viz., those due to puerperal sepsis, which represented approximately one-third ol the total maternal deaths ill the year 1923, itmust accept at least a share of responsibility. The further saving of mother* and of infants under olio inoiilli. however, would appear to rest rather with the public, and the medi- _ cal and nursing professions. The Department will continue to endeavour to grapple with these problems, hut to do so it will require the wholehearted co-operation of tile public and these professions. Dr Trilby King ami the Blanket Society will co-oper-ate ill lid* work."