MAORIS’ HEALTH
INFANTILE AND MATERNAL.
HIGH CHILD DEATH RATE.
The extraordinarily high death rate of Maori infants has caused special attention to be devoted by the Health Department, chiefly through the agency of the district nurses to natives, to the instruction of Maori mothers with the view of reducing the number of deaths. Whereas tho European infantile death rate in New Zealand has never during the past six years been in excess of 40 per 1000 live births, the Maori infantile mortality rate has been more than twice as great, and in one year more than four times greater than the general New Zealand rate. The Tate in 1929 was 78.07, increasing in 1930 to 88.51 per 1000 live births. Tho Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt) states that the greater proportion of deaths has been caused by respiratory diseases. With tho exception of 1927, tho respiratory diseases hay© been responsible for over 40 per cent; of the deaths. He is pleased, to note that during the past four ; years there has been a substantial reduction in th© number of deaths from respiratory causes. This he could only attri- , but© to'the excellent work done by district nurses and other parties interested in the education of th© Maori people in the laws of health. By far th© greater number of deaths from alimentary and respiratory causes occurred after th© third month of life. In these two cause groups there Is room for a still greater improvement, states Dr. Watt, and district nurses are recommended to persevere in the excellent work that has been done and. to endeavour to make still further improvement in th© education of Maori mothers in th© proper feeding and clothing of the infants. ' Dr. Watt states that there has been an increase from 5.87 in 1929 to 9.89 per 1000 live births in 1930 from maternal deaths. Districts nurses are urged to continue to educate Maori mothers in the necessity of obtaining skilled assistance for th© confinement and for after-care, not only of the mother but of th© infant.
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Bibliographic details
Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 7
Word Count
343MAORIS’ HEALTH Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 7
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