MATERNAL WELFARE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17230, 9 April 1930, Page 13

MATERNAL WELFARE

NEW ZEALAND SYSTEM RADICAL CHANGE NEEDED VIIAVs Ob PI!, va u stink. .In an analysis of statistics relating to maternal mortality and New Zealand s declining birth rate, given at t'acroa, I):. T. If. A. Valinliiie, Diroctor-C.cn-pral of Health, emphasised the necessity of improving the. standard of obstetrical surgery and the service available today to (he mothers of New Zealand. "The more I see of the results of Urn present system of obstetrical rare. ' said \h\ Valinline, "Ilie more lam inclined to believe that a permanent reduction in the present, rate of maternal mortality can only be obtained by a radical change, of such ;i system." Radical changes, even if they were recognised as reforms, were notoriously difficult to effect, but there was no reason why some, of tho changes should not come within a comparatively short period. tor othei changes, however, a very complete education of the public in obstetrical matters was necessary and the time for this was at hand. EUROPE AND EMPIRE. In Croat Britain, Ireland. Australia and New Zealand, where there were 6.000,000 births a year, the maternal mortality rate was 4.22 per 1000 live births. In Holland and the Scandinavian countries, where there, were 2,000.000 births a vear, tho rate was 2.53 pei .1000. There were essential differences between midwifery practice as carried out in Holland and the Scandinavian countries and in the British Empire. In tho first place the education of the. medical student, in obstetrics in Holland was as full as that in medicine or in surgery. The time devoted by students to the subjects of obstetrics and gynaecology was nl least four or live times longer than that devoted to the subjects at, universities in (he Empire. Oilier advantages afforded medical .students in foreign countries were that the training period of midwives was much longer than in Great Britain; ante-natal diagnosis of cases was more fully developed ; normal cases of midwifery \\v\c attended by midwives who were compelled by law to obtain medical assistance if any abnormality occurred; and a, specialist's advice was obtainable when required by general medical practitioners. DOMINION \S OPPORTUNITY". A chair in midwifery was being established at Otago University and this would help New Zealand to attain the standard of obstetrical practice of Holland. Tho results of the association of effective ante-natal care with the management of normal cases by midwives could be seen from the statistics of the Queen Victoria. .Jubilee Institute. Among 317.758 patients tho total mortality, including deaths from associated disease, was at the rate of 1.64 per 1000, while, if associated diseases were excluded, the rate fell to 1.41 per 10C0. Such a rate was a considerable improvement on the rale in Holland and the Scandinavian countries and showed that a low mortality rate, was not due to any special qualities of their women. "I further quote," said Dr. Valiiitine, "the information given me by the medical superintendent of one of our St. Helens hospitals. 'Under conditions of systematic and skilled ante-natal care, ho says, 'complete sterilisation of dressings ituA sound aseptic technique, the last 13.000 consecutive deliveries in this St. Helens hospital resulted in only one maternal death, which occurred after the patient leiur 1 home against the advice of the medical officers.' FALLING lillM'H HATE. Concluding with an analysis of birthrale statistics. Dr. Valintine said the infantile mortality was 36.18 per .1000 ■births in 1928." as against 38.74 for 1927. The birth rate of 19.56 per 1000 still showed a. falling tendency. In .1928 the children burn numbered 27,200. much the. lowest figure for the past, nine years. Deaths from accident and disease of the puerperal state remained nl practically the same level in 1928 as in 1927. Tho numbers were 137 in 1927 ami 134 in 1928. Owing lo I he. lower number of births in the latter year, however, the rale per 1000 births increased slightly from 4.91 lo 4.93. "The reduction in deaths from these causes.'' said Dr. Valintine, "is a perplexing problem, but with the better I raining of medical students and midwives a higher standard of asepsis and an extension of ante-natal supervision we hope lo be. able lo look forward to a reduction of deaths.'' Auckland Herald.