Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-14
HEALTH OF NATIONS BABIES
AIDED BY STATE AND u. S. ACTION
Miss Abbott of Children's Bureau Tells of Co.opera-
ton in Behalf of Two and Half Million Expect
ant Mothers-Urges Expansion of Campaign.

Every year nearly two and a half
million women in the United States
are planning and preparing for new
babies, according to Miss Grace Alb
bolt. chief Of the Chfldrens Bureau,
United States Department OF Labor.
in q statement before the House ap-
propriations committee.
THE Federal maternity and in
fancy act" she declares. enables the
United States Government to COOP
crate with the States in bringing to
these mothers valuable information"
Under the provisions Of this act the
sum of $1,000 Is available to each
State accepting it. and the balance
is on the basis Of the amount match
ed by the State. Statistics submit
ted by Miss Abbott indicate that the
amounts accepted by the States in
crease each year. ranging from $716,-
600 in 1928 to $958.000 in 1925.
Act Serving Its Purpose.
ut is believed" Miss Abbott says,
that the act is serving the general
purpose for which 1t was passed.
state plans have originated in the
States and have been administered by
the States so that State initiative
has been stimulated and State ma
chinery strengthened: the States have
in turn encouraged and developed
local responsibility for the health of
children: there has been very great
increase in interest in the promotion
of welfare ard hygiene of maternity
and infancy, and, while the work is
only getting under way In most States,
statistical evidence in lowered death
rates OF the value Of the intensive
pieces Of work is available. The 1924
infant mortality rates (the latest
available) show an encouraging re-
duction for both urban and rural
areas in practically all the States in
the registration area.
On the conduct and progress Of the
work under the maternity act. Miss
Abbott says. In part. as follows:
Each State plans It's own pro-
gram and decides upon the State
agency, usually the State Bureau OF
Child Hygiene, which shall direct the
program. The work for mothers and
babies Ia carried on as a part of the
public health work Of the State. The
fact that the State has accepted the
maternity and infancy act only means
that 1t Is possible to reach more
mothers and babies because more
money Is available, and to work more
effectively because Of the co-opera-
ton OF the other States and the
National Government.
Praises Child Health Centers.
1T has been found that the child
health center and the prenatal CEN
ter are among the best teaching
agencies. The reports of the States
show that during 1925 1854 child
health conferences were held by the
| ,fctA a
funds, at which ,846 infants and
children of preschool age were ex-
amined and 607 permanent child
health centers were established. The
automobile or truck QUILTED as a. cen
ter has been found to be- of especial
advantage in initiating a maternity
and infancy program in areas where
the nature of the work is little un-
derstood. Since 1t attracts. attention
all along the route, it has great edu-
cational value. In some States a
maternity and infancy nurse has
been sent to counties for periods of
two or three months to assist the
general public health nurse in the
maternity and infancy program.
Home visits are a part Of the
health center routine. the usual GUS
tom being for the nurse to make the
! first visit promptly after birth regis
! tration.
I'm all States cooperating under
the maternity and infancy act special
| efforts have been made to get the
| program for prenatal care we'll I'M
der way. The States report 6,088 pre-.
| natal conferences during 1924, with
| 1852 women in attendance. Pre-
natal letters have been used In many
! States More letters were distributed
on request of physicians than In any
, other way. Surveys Of the midwife
| situation have been undertaken In a
! number Of States and have been COM
| pleted in several. Educational work
among midwives has been under
taken by physicians. and much Is also
accomplished by State and county
] nurses. In the South the problem
| of the unframed negro midwife Is
serious. Special attention has been
! given to training the midwives IN
| a number of these States.
Cooperation Necessary.
Much of the success of mater
| nifty and infancy program depends
upon the interest and cooperation OF
| the medical profession. Assistance
! has been given by State and local
medical societies and by individual
'.''-.s-.-s, se-t