Reduction of Maternal Mortality

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

Reduction of Maternal Mortality

WORK IN ENGLAND rriHE remarkable progress which has A been made in reducing maternal mortality by super-specialisation was referred to by Mr. Louis 0. Rivett, tho gynaecological- surgeon, at a recent meeting of the Ladies' Association of Queon Charlotte's Maternity Hospital, of us," said Mr. Rivett, "have taken one or other serious maternal complication to deal with to trv to find a remedy. I am snoer-specialising in the peritonitis complication, and must say that the results have been most satisfactory. Whereas this was considered to be quite fatal —there has been only one case known to recover —now, since starting tho super-specialisation, thirty per cent have recovered. That is only one branch. Equal success is being obtained in other complications by other super-specialists hope to lessen the maternal mortality of the whole country by our investigations in isolated areas, notably in South Wales and Rhondda Valley, where the rato is 15 per 1000#is against the average of 5 p*r 1000 for most of England and Wales." . England and Wales ranked m the medium class as regards maternal mortality, America having a higher rate, while Sweden, Denmark and Holland were better.