The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-05-07
WILL WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE?

Tomorrow the whole nation will honor the Am erican mother It is formal reciprocation for ernal love and devotion. But it is also more than that it is formal acknowledgement and apprecia tion for the many sacrifices made by mother
 Among all the voluntary sacrifices that surround motherhood with celestial halo, there is in voluntary sacrifice which rises as a large black shadow in front of it. It is the accumulated shadow of 1282 mothers who died from childbirth during the year of 1886 1887 statistics are not yet avalabe)
 Childbirth is a natural process and with the proper care, it also be made normal one The United States leads the list of IT foreign countries in the high rate of maternal mortality. Moreover, studies on the of maternal deaths in many states within the Union have brought the definite conclusion that more than two-thrds of the maternal deaths are preventabe
 Early and adequate prenatal care from physician will in most cases, assure a normal and un- eventful termination of pregnancy Of course, the number of 12182 maternal deaths in year is appalling. Had such large number died from some obscure disease. it would have been considered an epidemic and public opinion would have been very much aroused if no serious measures were taken for the prevention of such
 But what is even more appalling is the number of mothers who have escaped the final step into death, but have remained alive suffering some ill effects result of childbirth and whose suffering is known only to themselves or their families
 The chief causes of maternal deaths according to the U s. Children's Bureau statistics
 | Toxemias Cpoisoning), B percent.
 9 Sepsis dnfection) g percent.
 g. Abortion g percent.
 4 Hemorrhage. 10 percent
 ,. Other accidents 13 percent
 6. All other causes, percent
 Surgeon General Thomas Paran, of the U. S. hlic Hpa1t = difference of patients of the chief causes of maternal deaths He says:
 "In the cities of New York and Philadelphia it was found that approximately one-third of all mater nal deaths attributed to ignorance and lack of cooperation on the part of the patient. A recent report made by the Childrens Bureau shows that 51 percent of women dying from puerperal causes had had no prenatal supervision, and that 10 percent had not seen physician the doctor called for the first time when the patient moribund. Only l2 percent had prenatal supervision which might be considered adequate. One cannot be compacent in the face of such facts The opportunity for parents to know the essential needs of maternal and the development of facilities available the neces sary services are challenges confronting the public health authorities, physicians and the laitv alike
 It is obvious from the above that the initial step for improvement must be thorough dissemination of the essential informaton; only with Knowledge can we light ignorance and the application Of knowledge is the second step for the solution of the problem
 Eleven maternal deaths reported for the year 1881 in Alaska for the total number of 1929 births Only 655 of the above number of births were delivered by physicians; 256 delivered by mid wives, 138 delivered by nurses and 180 de- livered with in attendance
 These lost eleven mothers a great personal loss to their families The family has been bereaved from that singular blessing of mothers love They have also been deprived of the protection and security which complete and normal family unit affords to the child Their adjustment to life has been made therefore more difficult and subsequently, the com munty will share the burden of whatever maadjust- ments may result
 We cannot but repeat Dr. Parrans statement in conclusion. in behalf of safe motherhood, that it is challenge confronting the public health authorities the physicians and the laity alike