CARE OF MOTHERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17410, 24 May 1928, Page 14

CARE OF MOTHERS.

WHAT ENGLAND IS DOING IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. LONDON, March 30. Reference in the House of Commons to the high percentage of deaths in this country of mothers in ch.Jdbirth called forth the assurance that the Ministry of Health is takrng the necessary action to give effect to the recommendations contained in the recent report by the Department in the “Protection of Motherhood. ’ The first conclusion of the report is that it should be compulsory for every health authority to prepare within a given time —a year is suggested—a complete scheme of maternity work. The cost should be borne equally by the local authority aDd by the State. Areas of special difficulty should be given additional grants. Schemes should make provision for ante-natal clinics to enable all pregnant women to seek advice, and the opinion is expressed that these clinics should all be organsed and controlled directly by public health authorities, voluntary agencies being superseded, and that there should be a substantial increase in the number of health visitors. In addition there should be a sufficient number of maternity beds in homes under the control of the local authority, or maternity wards in hospitals approved by the Ministry of Health and supervised by the local authority or co-operating with them, for all women whose confinements are likely to be difficult, or whose home circumstances make confinements at home unsuitable and dangerous. This provision should not be associated with the Poor Law, should be free where necessary, and a scale of reasonable charges should be based on income. Insurance and Free Help. The report also advocates the extension of medical benefit to the wives of all insured persons and the administration of that benefit by tne local health authority. Other suggestions made include provisions of home helps to assist the mother in the housework, and the provision of food, free of cost, if necessary, or at cost price. It is pointed out that in order that all these provisions might be made there would nee'd to be a great reorganisation of medical, midwifery, and nursing services. Where Mortality Is High. Lady Aberdeen, president of the International Council of Women, in a letter to the Times, gives the information that has been obtained from questionnaires distributed all over the world. “Maternal mortality,” she writes, “appears to be lowest in Denmark, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands, and highest in Australia, Canada, and in some States in America. The fact that everywhere it rather tends to increase, whilst infant, mortality has not notably diminished, is commented on by nearly all correspondents.” Chief Recommendations. The following are the chief recommendations adopted by the executive of the International Council of Women, after receiving the reports from the National Councils, and these recommendations are being circulated and pressed on women’s organisations all over the world:— 1. Education of the public as to the need for care of the mother during pregnancy and child-birth. 2. Compulsory rtotlfiqation of puerperal septicemia in countries where such notification is lacking. 3. That each country should consider what is necessary to ensure full facilities for the training of medical students, midwives, and nurses, and to provide post-graduate courses for them. h. Provision of special consulting obstetricians who can be called on to attend difficult cases for a fixed fee. 5. Better regulation and inspection of all hospitals and nursing homes for lying-in women, and increased provision of hospital accommodation for women. 6 Provision of ante-natal clinics and supervision of expectant mothers by doctors assisted by midwives and public health nurses. Pre-maternity centres and maisons maternelles (France), together with homes where expectant mothers can reside for a time when necessary. 7. Education work on the care of mothers to be undertaken by public health authorities; Mothers’ Health Week; supply of free leaflets and pre-natal letters, such as has been done successfully in certain districts of the United States, Canada, and Australia. 8. Fathers’ classes for courses of instruction for fathers regarding their responsibility as to the health of wives and children, and as to their responsibilities regarding the health and welfare of the general community. 9. Little mothers’ " classes. 10 Provision of homo helps, who could be engaged by the mothers to look after the home and children while the mother is laid up. 11. Mothers having a claim to receive maternity benefit to be encouraged to place themselves under antenatal supervision.

12. Dental care during pregnancy. 13. Centres for free treatment of expectant mothers who have contracted venereal disease.