MATERNITY MORTALITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 7 June 1924, Page 9

MATERNITY MORTALITY.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S

CAMPAIGN.

By Telegraph-—Press Association. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 6. A Dominion-wide campaign of the Health authorities against the alarming increase in maternal mortality, was opened at Palmerston North this evening, when eminent speakers addressed a large audience. The Minister of Health (Sir Maui Pomare), said that during the last five months the deaths of 755 mothers had occurred as a result of child-birth. Of these approximately one-third were attributed to puerperal sepsis. It was obvious that these figures were too high, and that the great number were preventable. The fault lay chiefly with the medical and nursing professions, and the women themselves. Nature’s methods were now unfortunately regarded as out-of-date, and pressure was brought to bear upon medical attendants to expedite delivery by instrumental means, with resultant incalculable damage to and sometimes the death of the mother and offspring. Denmark had little maternal mortality, yet doctors only attended abnormal cases, not all. The maternity hospitals in the Dominions were satisfactory, but the Department’s policy was for a rigorous system of regulation and inspection, and the. establishment of well-equipped institutions in connection with public hospitals. Regarding the economic aspect, the Minister said there was too much interference, legal and illegal, and hundreds were unable to have families. Education was the. keynote of solving the problem, and in this the Plunket Society could be of tremendous assistance. Dr Valintine, Director-General of Health, declared that maternal mortalitv in New Zealand had reached alarming proportions—six per 1000 of the population. In England it was but three per 1000. Hospital Boards would bo expected to assist by the establishmerit of maternity homes. Dr T. L. Paget, Inspector, of Hospitals, said the Kelvin inquiry had aroused in tbo minds of medical men a realisation of the very serious, position in which they stood, and while there were many quarrels which obscured (he main issue, the great causes of death consequent upon maternity would have to bo concentrated, upon methods of saving mothers considered. Dr. Triibv King, Director of Child Welfare, dealt, with the medical nspenu of various diseases, and said the public would not fully realise the significance of these without fully understanding (ho functions of the various organs. “Dor every woman who dies through, this dreadful cause. 1000 are damaged by the same cause. We think of the adult and forget the child, the latter frequently having to endure an existence which should not have been forced Upon it. This could lie stayed in the beginning if we would only be sensible.” A resolution endorsing and supporting tbo ael ion of (lie Government in (bo slo’is being taken in the matte,-, was passed.