The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-03-09
FIFTEEN THOUSAND
MOTHERS DIE

; More women Is to As years OF
age die In the United States from
conditions incident to maternity thar
from any other cause except tuber.
culosis. And since 1900, while the
death rates from tuberculosis, ty.
phoid, diphtheria and Group, and
certain other preventable diseases
have been greatly reduced, the avail
able figures for the death registra-
ton area show no decrease in the
proportion Of mothers whose lives
are sacrificed yearly to ignorance and
improper care in childbirth.
These facts and their causes. with
detailed study of maternal death
rates in the United States and for
eign countries, are set forth in a
bulletin on maternal mortality by DR..
Grace L. Meigs, which has just been
issued by the children's bureau of the
United States department of labor.
. DR.. Meigs emphasizes the INSOFAR
able come ton between the life and
health Of the mother and the life
and health of her baby. She points
out that the $1,000 maternal deaths
which occur annually in the United
States are largely preventable; that
these $4,000 deaths are merely
rough index of unmeasured prevent
able illness among mothers; and that
the protection of mothers is essential
to the saving of babies lives.
How can the protection of mothers
be accomplished?
Two underlying causes are assign
ed for the present conditions:
First: The hazards have been
either ignored or accepted as un-
avoidable. knowledge of the need
for good care at childbirth is essen |
tial; the lack of such knowledge and |
OF demand for this care has been,
probably, the chief factor in produc-
ing the present indifference to this
phase of preventive medicine. Com
munities are still to a great extent
to or ignorant of the
of lives Of women lost yearly
from childbirth"
"The second fundamental cause
the difficulty of obtaining adequate
care-is seen to depend to a large
extent on the first. AS women, their
husbands, physicians, and commune
lies realize the absolute need of skill
ID care, methods for providing it will
be developed"
The city problem and the rural
problem are both discussed.
Even in city well supplied with
linics and hospitals the number of
served by them is small in
with the number who
'ear their children without receiving
.dequate care. Certain sections of
he population depend on ignorant
nidwives. But the reader is remind
d that women of moderate means
Who can not pay large fees and who
Jill not visit a clinic sometimes re-
Give the least benefit from improve
tents in standards of care.
In rural districts many women
ear their children with no attend
mt other than the husband, rela-
i've, or a neighbor. The nearest
MUSICIAN may be miles away, the
earest hospital much farther"
DR.. Meigs refers to the work for !
and child welfare, which \
as been developed in New Zealand
nd in Canada, and suggests unit
Ian" for rural county in this
ountry to include:
A rural nursing service, centering
the county seat, with nurses es-
ecially trained to recognize danger
Us symptoms in prospective
lothers.
An accessible county center to
hich mothers could come for in
about personal hygiene.
A cottage hospital. or beds in an
:cessible general hospital, especial
; for the proper care of abnormal
Lses.
Skilled attendance obtainable by
Lch mother in the county.
Exchange.