STARTLING RATE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16942, 26 January 1926, Page 11

STARTLING RATE.

MATERNITY MORTALITY. Last week a maternity hospital, creeled by the generosity of the Irustees of the- Lissie Rathbone Estate at a cost of £7343. was opened by the Hon. Sir Maui Romarc, who made reference in the course of his remarks to the high maternity death rate. Sir Maui Roma re said that the materuttl mortalily rale in Denmark was 2.1 d per thousand, and in Enghtud d.N. while in New Zealand it was .VI per thousand. A special report on the causes had now icaelied him. Briefly lie was advised that the reason for the death rale being- so low :ia Denmark was due to the efficiency of the midwives and to the ■lon-inteiference by doctors. Up to lately in Now Zealand they had not had the efficiency aimed at in the millwives, and Hu-ro had been too much inlorfnrence by the doctors. He confidently expected the establishing of maternity hospitals wonl>l bring about a. great improvement, especially where worked in eonjunelion wiln anlo-uaial clinics. I>r. Valintino, Diroelor of Health, said New Zealand had enough general hospitals, hut more malernlty hospitals were needed. They were wauled not only for the prospective mothers, but also for the adequate and scientific training of midwives. In Now Zealand there- are 2000 midwives, 1120 of whom are in noittal work, and there are 270 class D midwives.