MATERNAL MORTALITY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 57, 5 May 1924, Page 6

MATERNAL MORTALITY

MINISTER FOR HEALTH GIVES

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES,

An important statement in regard to the maternal mortality rate in NeV Zealand as compared with that hi oih'er cov.ntries, and wiiat the Health Department is doing to grappa with the problem, was made to a "Times'' represerita€ive yesterday by Sir Maui 'Pdthare (]\linister for Health): : r l"Jit th© preparation of the departmental annual report several important facts from a statistical point Of view have been brought into prominence (stated the Minister). These facts are so impresisive -that it is. considered they should be placed before the public in a general '' statement, iiiid !M& -hi t to'; bet -»ct>rdedperhaps buried in the annual report.

"While the' vital • statistics of New Zealand generally compare more tlufti favourable with those of other countries, in certain respects; we do not ocxnipy a partieulnrVy- sound' position, and indeed seem to be "Haggling behind. For some' time past it has teen known to our shame that despite many advantages, social and economic, the Dominion labours under the stigma.of a comparatively high;, maternal mortality rate. In, proportion to its population, more women die as a result of child birth in this country than in many other countries which have not the advantages that we. possess. ■The following table shows the posi* 'tion clearly":— * , : •'■•• ••■ 'u Country and ,- "Maternal ■ J Year. Rate. Denmark, 1*921 Th e ; Netherlands, 1921 ,£™ 2.3 Sweden, .1917 , ...,.......' .'.' 2.5 Italy, 1917 . ~.,.,,..,. ..., ,3,0. ■. Norway', 1917 . .'......'.J.;.,,..,.....,. 3,0 ,'■ jlruguary, 1920 1...... V......... 'vtypW, js2i., ~'.'■' ;....,..: 3.6. England and ~,..1..,.,.... 3.9 U|iiori of South Africa,'l9l9 3.9! ; Hungary/1915 '.',.'•.-.'.'....':. , 4.0 ,' Finland, 191 S ~.'.'.''....:,;.'.:...'.,.. 4;i.' Australia, J 921 , w .". ;........ •.'.".'., 4,:.7 C "Germany, 1918 ;.'?:?...., .....\ 4.9 New Zealand, 1923 '.. 5.1 . Spain, 1915; ........ !.,■.,' 5:2 Ireland, 1920 '..' ..:.,......' '0.5 Switzerland,, 1916 ..........' 5.5 Fi-ance ,1914 ':....,:.„; 5-7 Scotland,' 19.19 .!.".'...'.V:.........;. ? 6.2 IP'S. Birth Registration Area, 1923 : '..;'.......'..■ 6$ . Tk'lghim, 1919 7% i Chile,' 1920 /....:.:/-.. 7,5