MATERNAL MORTALITY

Southland Times, Issue 20662, 18 April 1929, Page 8

MATERNAL MORTALITY

HIGH RATE IN AMERICA

CAMPAIGN FOR REDUCTION

New York, February 29

Asserting that it is more dangerous to become a mother in the United States than to have been a soldier in the Great YVar, women’s associations have started a movement to reduce the maternal mortality rate in the United States, which is the highest in the world.

The Federal Government some years ago voted £200,000 a year, subject to State subsidy in like proportion, for educational clinics similar to the Plunket system in New Zealand. A certain amount of State apathy has led the women to draft an amending Bill, which will make the State subsidy voluntary. YVhile infant mortality has decreased m the last five years, there has been no reduction in the maternal mortality rate. In spite of the great wealth of the United States rural communities are badly equipped as to hospitals and medical services, and there is a scarcity of country doctors. At present 23,000 mothers die each year and the number invalided for life is much larger. The maternal mortality rate in the country at large is 6.5 per 1000. In one county of New York State, where the campaign has been active, the rate has been cut to 1.6 per 1000. The women’s organizations point out that the United States spends £3,200,000 a year for health work among livestock, but onlj’ £200,000 for health work among mothers.