MATERNAL MORTALITY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1924, Page 7

MATERNAL MORTALITY

PRESENT METHODS INEFFECTIVE

NEW ZEALAND LAGGING

BEHIND

NEW MEASURES MUST BE

DEVISED,

In the course of his annual report, Dr. M. H. Watt (Director o£ the Division of Publio Hygiene) deals with the question of maternal mortality.

• While the vital statistics of New Zealand generally compare more than favourably with those of other countries, in certain respects the Dominion does not occupy a particularly sound position, and, indeed, seems to be lagging behind, says Dr. Watt. For some time it has been known, to our shame, that, despite many advantages—climatic, social, and economic—the Dominion labours under the stigma 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 following shows the maternal mortality rates per 1000 in the vaiious countries: —Denmark, 1921, 2.0; Netherlands, 1821, 2.3; Sweden, 1917, 2.5; Italy, 1917, 3.0; Norway, 1917, 3.0; Uruguay, 1920 3.4; Japan, 1921, 3.6; England and Wales, 1922, 3.8; Union of South Africa, 1919, 3.9; Hungary, 1915, 4.0; Finland, 1918, 4.4; Australia, 1921, 4.7.: Germany, 1918, 4.9; New Zealand, 1923, 5.1; Spain, 1915, 5.2; Irelaaid, 1920, 5.5; Switzerland 1915 5.5; France, 1914, 5.7; Scotland, 191*9, 6.2; United States Birth-registration area, 1923, 6.8; Belgium, 1919, 72- Chile, 1920, 7.5. ' '

INFANT MORTALITY.

. Again,- while New Zealand is justly proud of its record that it possesses the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, a- close inspection of the figures shows that there is still much. to be done. The reduction in the infant mortality rate in New Zealand has been wholly due to the saving of infant life after the age of one month, an accomplishment due in no small measure to the excellent work inaugurated and directed by Dr. Truby King. The deathrate of infants under one month in this country,- however, is still 29 per 1000 live births, and .Las shown practically no reduction since the Plunket Society commenced its work •in 1907, when the rate was 30 per 1000. In a recent report which the Health Department received from Dr. 0- J. Brenkman, Chief of the Medical Statistical Department of the Municipal Health Service :of Amsterdam, it is shown that the deathrate of infants -under one month -in that city has fallen from 23 per 1000 births in 1905 to 13 per 1000 births in 1922. Differences in the methods of compil-' ,ing the figures forbid any strict comparison between the two countries in regard, to first-month mortality.' The fact remains that in Amsterdam the/ firstmonth mortality is a rapidly falling quantity while in New Zealand it is ■practically stationary. Closely allied : in:ite causes with the death-rate under one month is the mass of still-birtha .which. occurs annually in the Dominion. Still-births"■• hare' been notifiable since 1916. The rate of stillbirths for the year 1923 was 32 per 1000 live births, a higher figure than any previously recorded.

IN A MOST UNFAVOURABLE

LIGHT.

These three groups of figures show JNeW Zealand in a most unfavourable light, adds the report. » It is obvious tfiat present methods are not: effective, .and-do not provide the solution of the problem. New measures must be devised. The problem is one'which con-^ corns primarily the general public and tie medical a-nd nursing professions,. and ."tho Remedy would appear to lie rather m their hands than %yith the Department of Health. It can be reasonably expected that better treatment of the expectant mother and higher skill on the part of tlie attendants at the time [o[ birth and immediately afterwards would reduce these rates very materi-

On the subject of maternal mortality a table shows the number of deaths from puerperal causes, and the rate of such deatk per 1000 births, for the Ryemimstratxon and the .confidence the T^Z ht rep°Se in thwe in March, 1924, the numfc of deaths from puerperal fever in St. Helen's HoS pitals was only four, or 0.58 per 1000 W t If' T hereaS the flSures for ™