HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22964, 20 August 1936, Page 11

HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE

SURVEY OF THE DOMINION RECORD LOW BIRTH RATE FEWER DEATHS FROM TUBERCULOSIS (From Our Parliamentary Rxi-orter) WELLINGTON, August 19. A record low birth rate for New Zealand last year is again revealed in the annual report of the Department of Health which was presented in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of Health (Mr P. Fraser). This statement has now been applied to the New Zealand birth rate for each of the last 10 years. The births registered in the Dominion in 1935 numbered 23,965, compared with 24,322 in the previous year. The birth rate last year was 16.13 per 1000 of mean population, as against 16.47 in 1934. The natural increase (excess of births over deaths) was 11,748 persons, or only 0.80 per cent, of the total population. The loss during the year in migration balances the accounts for increase in population, being only 0.60 per cent. The deaths registered last year numbered 12,217,'a decrease of 310 over the figure for 1934. The death rate per 1000 of mean population was 8.22, as compared with 8.48 in 1934. The infant mortality rate showed a slight rise to 32.26 per 1000 live births, as against 32.11 in 1934. The still birth rate was 30.8 per 1000 live births. The report states that the total number of notifiable diseases reported to the department was 3349. This is the second lowest figure since accurate records of notifications have been compiled for the Dominion. FEATURES OF THE REPORT The death rate from tuberculosis was the lowest ever recorded, being 3.88 per 10,000 (4.20 in 1934). A definite advance had been made in the campaign against this disease by the establishment of tuberculosis clinics in various parts of the North Island similar to those operating for a number of years in the South Island. The work of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society was now exerting a widespread influence in the control of cancer in this country, states the report. The incidence of cancer among the members of the Native race had been the subject of inquiry by the society, and it was hoped that a statistical study would enable it to get information on this point. A depressing feature of modern life was the number of motor accidents which occurred, causing death, suffering, decreased efficiency, and economic loss. On the economic side an increased burden was being thrown on the hospital system for the provision of facilities and staff for the treatment of such cases. ARTIFICIAL BIRTH CONTROL The report states that, in spite of the fact that the deaths from septic abortion fell from 42 in 1934 to 23 last year, the problem still remained o serious one, and the best means of dealing with it were not clear. Seventeen of the women were married and six were single. " It cannot be disputed that practically the whole of the cases dying from septic abortion are the results of attempts artificially to terminate pregnancy either by the woman herself or by an abortionist," added the report. "In other words, they are the result of a highly dangerous attempt at birth control. No evidence is available regarding the proportion of cases in which the operation is performed by the woman herself or by an abortionist. It is, however, known from information received from medical men that at least a proportion of the cases is due to the woman's own act. Abortion being illegal in New Zealand, there are no means of estimating either the number of abortions due to deliberate interference or the permanent injury to health in the case of those who escape death. "A consideration of the whole problem, however, leads one to the inevitable conclusion that the economic factor is the main one which leads to the practice of birth control by this method. In expressing this opinion it is not intended to create the impression that the costs incidental to childbirth present themselves as a serious factor. This can hardly be so. The provision made in New Zealand for attendance on women during pregnancy and childbirth at a cost in accordance with their means is very complete. Those who can pay little or nothing are efficiently and pleasantly provided for by a majority of the hospital boards and by the State maternity hospitals, and have available the same quality of attendance as those who require no financial assistance. The housing shortage as a result of the recent economic depression has probably played a considerable part. A SOCIAL PROBLEM " The problem of septic abortion among unmarried women is different," the report adds. " The motive to terminate pregnancy is obvious. It is essentially a social problem as opposed to an economic one. It can safely be left in the hands of the religious bodies and societies concerned in the question of giving help to unmarried mothers."