INCREASING DEMAND FOR GOOD MIDWIVES.

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XIII, Issue 3, 1 July 1920, Page 124

INCREASING DEMAND FOR GOOD MIDWIVES.

In 1916 there were over 40,000 midwives on the roll, of whom only 22 per cent, of those who had been trained practised; many of the untrained (bona fides) are dying out, or have been removed from the roll at their own request or for inability to comply with the rules of the Central Midwives Board. There is at present a demand for well-educated midwives who practise their profession, both m urban and rural areas, and many other

less responsible posts aiie open to them, e.g., health visiting, infant welfare and creche work, and rescue work. The practising midwife has vast opportunities for improving the health of mothers and babies; patients look to her for advice and help m their difficulties; she may be, and often is, a great ally to maternity and child welfare centres and other agencies working for racial improvement ; she is called m many instances to cases attended by doctors, to undertake the daily skilled nursing that is so necessary for patients who cannot afford a resident nurse. In 1918 about three-quarters of the total births were attended by midwives, and the infantile death-rate has been reduced, since the passing of the Midwives Act, from 150 to 100 per 1000— some of this reduction may be fairly ascribed to an improved midwifery service. With regard to the maternal mortality the following figures are significant : m the decade 1897-1906, 1 m 228 died, m the last ten years 1 m 260 died. Yet, m spite of the importance of the work of the midwife, m spite of the fact that her training, though short, is intensive, and costs on an average from £30 to £40, her economic position is bad; until recently £80 a year was considered a munificent salary to a midwife employed by an association; the independent midwife, if single-handed, has a hard and difficult life; fees range from 5 to 30 shillings, sh!e has night and day work, can never be off duty, and her earnings, except m a few exceptional cases, do not allow of her saving for her old ago, taking holidays, or enjoying the amenities of lifle. Her expenses are heavy — shoeleather, locomotion, outfit, the indispensable domestic help, are some of the items. In the past, too, she often paid the doctor, if called m according to the regulations of th'e Central Midwives Board; she is often looked down upon socially, she has many to criticise her, but a few also to help; often the inspector is a tower of strength. Many doctors value her work, and the patients are grateful and have unbounded faith m her skill and advice.