MATERNAL MORTALITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19197, 13 June 1924, Page 9

MATERNAL MORTALITY.

THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PROFESSION. Sir Maui Poinare, Minister of Health, speaking last week at Palmerston North under the auspices of the local branch of the Plunket Society, dealt in interesting terms with the proolein of maternal mortality. “Wo are gathered together, ’’ said Sir .Maui Poinare, “to discuss a very serious problem, and one which must be tackled not only by the Government, but by every member of the .community. Within the last five years 755 New Zealand women have died in giving birth to children. Onethird of those deaths were due to puerperal sepsis, a little less than one-third to toxiema, convulsions, etc., and the remainder to accidents of labour and puerperal hmmorrhages. ’this death-rate is indeed too high for such a country as New Zealand, and the worst foal lire of it is that the majority of I hose deaths are preventable. This brings us to the point of asking ourselves these questions: What are (he causes? What are the remedies? How can we help? What can (he Plunket Society do iuid also the Government ? To my mind (he present iinlortunnte slate of affairs lies, firstly, with the women themselves; secondly, with the medical and nursing profession; thirdly, with the inadequacy of proper hospital provision for maternity eases; and, fourthly, with (he lack of ante-natal supervision. “Labour is a normal physiological process, and when Nature is not hampered she will deliver in all cases without detriment to the health of cither the mother or the child, but Nature's processes are very slow. Women of to-day think Nature is out of dale, and consequently—it is unfortunate -pressure is brought to bear upon the medical attendant to hurry Nature along. Then the trouble commences, very often resulting in the doalli of the mother or the child, or of both. Eminent medical Authorities are agreed that the use of forceps does more harm than good. There is too much resorting to the use of instruments. both legally and illegally. We all know that the standard of the medical and nursing professions in this country is high and, in fact, second to none in the world, but I want the public to understand and I want, (be medical profession to understand that there is a great responsibility resting upon them. Medical men must not allow themselves to bo influenced against their better judgment to expedite the processes of Nature. It is undue interference, I consider, which has a great deal to do with the mischief that is done. It will bo a good day for the mothers of New Zealand when they realise that the doctor is only necessary to see that things go along all right. If it is left to the midwife and God, Nature will do the rest. In Denmark, where the work is performed by miflwives. doctors being called in only for abnormal cases, the rate of maternal mortality is the lowest in the world.

“T hive a lot of sympathy with the medical profession, because a man who tries to do his duty by allowing Nature to do her own work is given the cold shoulder, while the more aggressive competitor gets the patients. There is an increasing tendency on the part of women to enter private maternity hospitals, and not all these hospitals are fit for the reception of women. The noUcy of the Health Department includes the rigid enforcement of new regulations and thorough inspection: also tne establishment of well-eonipped institutions connected with the public hospitals.

“That is where the Government' comes into it. We are willing, and more than willing, to bring about the establishment of maternity homes throughout the country. There can be no doubt that when this has been accomplished the risks attendant upon child-birth will be materially lessened. The department has appointed inspectors, and is appointing more inspectors, to' ensure the more efficient conduct of private maternity hosnitals. The erection of maternity hospitals to bo controlled bv hospital boards should result in the elimination of the small and unsatisfactory private hospitals. “We must encourage the expectant mother Id have regular and ante-natal examinations towards the time when she expects lo become confined. . Ante-natal clinics have been established in all our St. Helens hospitals, but it is a matter of regret that very few women avail themselves of the facilities offered. It is in connection with this that the Plunket nurses can do a great deal of good, and 1 am sure thev will. If' I were asked to give one word as the solution of the problem of maternal mortality I would say Education ’ The mother must he educated, anti it is here I hat the Plunket Society can help As the Minister in Charge of the Health Department, I ask for the co-opera-tion of everyone in this country. \Ve must stamp out this curse, for that is what it must be called. I ask for this in the interests of humanity, for the preservation of our glorious races.