OUR SHAME

Evening Star, Issue 18623, 2 May 1924, Page 3

OUR SHAME

HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY BAD PHASES OF INFANT WELFARE. STILL BIRTHS AND DEATHS UNDER ONE MONTH. [Pkr United Press Association.] WELLINGTON. Alay 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 Joint; to grapple with the problem was made by Sir Mani Pomavo (Minister of Health)'in connection with the preparation of the departmental annual report. “Several important facts from a statistical point of view have been brought into prominence,” stated the Minister. ‘ These fads are so impressive that it is considered that, they should be placed before the public, in a general statement and not left to bo recorded and perhaps buried in the annual report. Although the vital statistics of New Zealand generally compare more than favorably with those of other countries, in certain respects we do not occupy a particularly sound position, and. indeed, we seem to have been lagging behind for some time past. It has been known to our .shame that, despite many advantages—social and economical —the dominion labors under the stigma of a comparatively high maternal mortality rate in proportion' to its population. More women die ns n result of child-birth in this country than in many other countries which have not the advantages that wo possess. A table shows .that the New Zealand maternal mortality rate is 5.1 per 1.000; Denmark is the lowest with 2 per 1,000, and Belgium and Chile are the highest with 7.2 and 7.5, Australia’s rate being 4.7. “ Again, while New Zealand is justly proud of the record that it possesses in the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, close inspection of the figures shows that there is still much to be 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 duo to the saving of infant life after the age of one month, an accomplishment due in no sin ! measure to the excellent work inaugurated and directed hy Dr Truby King. The death rate of infants under one month in this however, is still (for the year 1923) 29 per 1.000 live births. When'the Blanket Society commenced its work in 1907 the rate was 50 per 1,000, “In a recent report which the Health Department received from Dr C. .1. Brenkman, chief of the 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 50 per 1,000 births, as against 42 per 1,000-(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 1,000 in Amsterdam, against 27 per 1.000 births in New Zealand in 1922, and 29 per 1,000 births in 1925, it causes one to pause. ‘Closely allied in its causes with the death rale under one month is tho_ mass if still-births which occurs annually in the dominion. Still-births have been notifiable since 1915. The rate ot still-births for the year 1925 was 52 per 1,000 live births, a higher figure than any previously recorded. These three groups of figurej fiiow New Zealand in a most unfavorable light.

" It is obvious that the present methods are not effective, and do not provide a folntion of the problem. New measures must he devised. The problem is one which concerns primarily the general public and fho medical and nursing professions, and a remedy would appear to be rather in their hands than with the Department of Health. It can be reasonably expected that f,he better treatment of the expectant mother and higher skill on the part of the attendants at the time of birth and immediately afterwards would reduce these rates very materially.

“The present tendency in New Zealand is for an ever-increasing number of confinements 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 unaccompanied by serious risk to the mother unless the standard of equipment and the efficiency of the institution are of high order. It- must be admitted that in some cases private hospitals do not attain this standard, for Hie reason that the. capital cost involved is beyond the means of the licensee. Many hospital boards have established in connection with public hospitals maternity wards or .separate maternity institutions,' which .arc doing excellent work. The equipment and standard of efficiency of these institutions leave little to be desired.

“ The department will, as opportunity offers, continue to urge, the hospital hoards to extend the facilities available in this way for the care and attention of maternity cases. The department is also considering other means of dealing with the situation, but in the meantime the facts tire such as to call for a considerable searching of the 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 its own responsibilities. It admits that as regards a fraction of maternity deaths—viz., those due to puerperal, sepsis, which represented approximately one-third of tho total maternal deaths in the year 1923—it must accept at least a share of the responsibility. The further saving of mothers and of infants under one month, however, would appear to rest with the public and the medical and nursing professions. The department will continue to endeavor to grapple with these problems, but to do fa it will require the whole-hearted coopera lion of the public and these profes-.s-nns. Dr Trilby King and the Phmkct ■■society will co-operate in this work.”