FOR MATERNAL WELFARE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12001, 2 December 1924, Page 8

FOR MATERNAL WELFARE

Ait the meeting of the National Council of Women last night very interesting addressed were given by Dt. Paget and Dr. Elaine Giirr on the Health Department’s regulations with regard to maternal welfare. Dr. Paget gave some interesting figures on maternal mortality. He said there were three classes of maternal mortality: those attributable to accidents, to toxiemia, and to puerperal sepsis. New Zealand had an uneviable reputation in the raee of maternal mortality, be ing the third highest in the British Dominions. Sometimes the cause was something present in the patient which could be eliminated by ante-natal treatment. One of the greatest difficulties lay in the fact that women are careless at that time, as to habits, etc., but unless public opinibn was roused on these points, little could be done. Ante-natal clinic work could prepare women for operation where this was necessary, instead’ of leaving things to the last minute. The danger of toxins in the blood could be eliminated fay ante-natal treatment. Sepsis was -caused Dy germs introduced mostly during the time of labour. There was less done in a systematic manner, to eliminate septis in this country than in some others. The department was going to ask every: woman to provide herself with an outfit properly sterilised’ lor which a small charge would be made, or would be given for nothing if the patient could not pay. A new set of hospital regulations had been drawn to as far as possible prevent concealment of details of cases. Charts had to be produced, signed by licensees of hospitals, and returned l day by day, and if this was not done it was the department’s business to ;cee why. They oould call for charts and inspect them at any time, and if sepsis was present there was every chance of detection. ' Temperatures over 100 maintained during three days had to be reported. It was for the private practitioner to prevent the incidence of sepsis, but it lay with the department to prevent its spread. They 1 were also taking steps to improve the practice of miawives. If only they I could get good results from the antenatal work, he thought they should | reduce the deaths from 6 to 4 per ; thousand. Dr. Elaine Gurr spoke on ante-natal | care, and detailed" the steps taken at the ante-natal clinics just established tor the care and systematic supervision of mother and child. Four clinics had been established in Wellington, at the Plunket rooms, Alexandra Home, i St. Helen's Hospital, and Salvation ; Army Home, and these had been going [for six weeks. Already, they had 43 ! patients, and had competent nurses in I charge. She_ gave many details of work in Edinburgh, where she hiffl I worked, and gave details of the help and advice given to mothers who came te them. She appealed to all women to help in making the work known and creating a publio opinion to help the department.