THE COUNTRY MOTHER

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 6

THE COUNTRY MOTHER

GREATER ATTENTION REQUIRED MATERNAL MORTALITY CASES DOMINION’S POSITION BETTER In -a reference to maternal mortality in New Zealand, the Minister for Health (Hon. Mr Young), when speaking at the Wellington Hospital yesterday showed that there was a greater proportion of deaths in the country districts than in the towns, and he urged that the system of district nursing should be extended as far as possible and embraced by the hospital hoards. While a great deal of good work was being done to alleviate the sufferings of those who fell ill, the Minister said no stone should be left unturned to prevent illness, and it wag gratifying to see that - the need for more work in this direction was being reoognised by the hospital authorities throughout the country. He noticed that £IB,OOO had been sprint in district nursing last year, and he would like to see more than this expended upon such a commendable work. He wished to see every hospital board in the Dominion where nurses were available send them out into the homes of the people, such as was being done with the Maoris in certain parts, and discover the cause of the sickness. If something could be done to prevent sickness in this manner, there would be no need to stint in the matter of hospital expenditure. Fresh air, sunshine, and good conditions in the home, in the living-rooms and in the workrooms, were some of the things that wbre going to make for a healthier cpmmunity. SERVICES IN COUNTRY « DISTRICTS Hospital boards should encourage the maternity nurse services in the country districte as far as possible. From statistics available New Zealand was shown to be steadily reducing the death rate from maternal eases. Denmark held the lowest record with 2.06, England was 2.95, and so on. Last year, however, New Zealand had reduced the figure to 4.&5. This, was something for which the community could be justly grateful, and showed that the work on, pre-natal cases in the Dominion which was being done with the co-operation of the department was making for the general health of the community. For some years past the figures in maternal cases had revealed a lowe'r death rate in the cities than in the country-. This showed the need of extending the maternal facilities -so that the ' Hospital Boards could give attention to mothers' in the rural districts, enabling them to bring children into the world with safety to their own lives. ■ ' Figures quoted by the Minister showed the followjng position in respect to deaths of maternal cases over the past few years:—

These figures, revealing as they .did a total of 131 deaths last year, must bring hope to the minds of the hospital authorities the need for the further extension of maternity nursing into the country. ■

Year. Cities. Rural. 1922 64 85 1923 88 1924 49 91 » 1923 51 80