"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1928. MATERNAL MORTALITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 19, 17 August 1928, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1928. MATERNAL MORTALITY.

IT might he supposed that in a P ut ~ iod of eight years, which Wave elapsed since pointed (attention waa drawn to the matter, the maternal mortality rate would have declined, and that this would) he assisted hy improvement in communications and the elimination to some extent of Die isolation of women living in moi© iemote districts. Unfortunately how, ever, the mortality rate 'among brothers for last year showed a. rise on that of 1926 and was only very little lower than the rate for 1924. Ali though New Zealand claims to ha one of the healthiest countries in the world there are several other countries in which the expectant mother has a better chance. Commenting oh this subject the Auckland] “Star says; “There are several causes—< economic, social, and scientific —ofl this (high mortality, but the main line of attack on the problem must he in the direction of better training for doctors and nurse s and the raising of the whole status of this branch of medicine. It is not only a matter of providing facilities for acquiring knowledge and experience, but of making both doctors and public real-; ise 'the importance of midwifery which, for various reasons, is not popular among practitioners. IVq would especially draw attention to the criticisms of the training provided at Otago University contained in tills year’s report by the Government’s consulting obstetrician. Dr., Jellett actually Buys that “when the new regulations for the training of midwives have begun to bear fruit, the midwife will be better equipped] in the art and practice of midwifery than will the medical practitioner,” 1 which, of course, is as serious as it i s absurd. It is not the fault of that admirable institution, the Dunedin Medical School, that Dunedin should he so backward in this respect. Dr. Jellntt finds that the faculty thoroughly recognises the inadequacy of the present methods. The truth is that this department cf the school is being starved, and immediate provision of adequate funds and adequate clinical material (which mtiy necessitate the student taking part of his training elsewhere) is needed. There is not even the cx- | cuse for delay that this is a. new l problem. As we have said, it has been Indore the country for some years, and h is distinctly discreditable that the cm* medical school ! should in this respect have boon! ;dl. we;i in lag behind for so 10ne.."