Evening star., 1938-01-15

Informed observers say that tn
success lies in the dynamic driving
energy of its leaders and in the high
grade OF personnel employed. Be that
as it may, We feel that the greatest
single asset that body has today
and the safest mainstay for the fu-
ture--is its versatile and energetic
chief. Miss Katharine F. Lenroot.
You'd feel that way. too, We believe,
after hearing her discuss the purposes
of the current conference and sketch,
AS she did at ulr request, the genera,
activities of the Childrens Bureau.
Certainly. no one could be better
versed IN the work than is this un-
assuming University of Wisconsin
graduate who first entered the service
in 1918 as special agent.
We are greatly encourag ged bv the
interest shown in next weeks con-
ference" she began Never before
have so many fields of national life
responded to our invitation. About SO
medical, professional and law organ
izations will be represented at the
sessions and the roster of delegates
includes many people. both national
and internationally known The
chairman of the Planning Committee.
for instance. is Mrs. j. K Pettengill.
national president OF the PARENT
Teacher Association.
I'VE are meeting. primarily" Miss
Lenront continued. 'to consider the
need for better medical and nursing
care at time Of childbirth and
throughout the period Of maternity
and early infancy. Our program
will deal with the need today
and with what Is involved i'll
meeting this need from the economic,
professional and civic points Of view.
Mrs. Roosevelt, with her keen con-
Germ for women's and childrens well
ware, has invited the conference to
hold the Tue$day morning session at
the White House. The First Lady
herself will open the discussion and
her address will be followed by .
general symposium on how the sit
uation Is being met in various places.
Finally. Miss Josephine Roche, until
recently Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury, will speak on The Goal We
Seek telling not alone of what Is be-
ing done today, but also of the things
that may be done tomorrow"
The conclave will be considering
demonstrations in nursing service now
being conducted in some % States
under the social security grants for
State maternal and child health SER
vices, which include services also for
crippled children and child welfare
in rural areas. We asked whether the
Washington County, Iowa, program,
which has received much favorable
recent publicity, was fair sample Of
what the various States are doing.
Yes, think that We may regard it
so." said Miss Lenroot thoughtfully.
Washington County was chosen as =
proving grounds for three outstanding
reasons. There is . progressive. we'll
organized medical profession, facilities
for medical care are good and-de-
spite these advantages-them maternal
death rate was highest Of all but II
counties in the entire State of Iowa,
using a median figure over a 5-year
period"
A depressing state Of affairs, you
may we'll think. But there Is .
brighter side to the picture. A years
survey. completed on December l,
1887, shows that out of 3l6 babies born
in the county the maternal health
program and visiting nurse activities
of the Children's Bureau reached 229
Of them. AS a result, there were no
maternal deaths whatsoever during
that period!
The urgent need for such mission
ary work Is seen when we learn that
the United States loses more mothers
from causes connected with pregnancy
and childbirth than almost any other
country. Only four chalk up q worse
record than ours-Scotland. Northern
Ireland, Lithuania and Chile. And
certain sections Of foreign countries
manage better than do their nations
in general. Thus. while Sweden loses
Is mothers per 10000 live births. the
municipality OF Stockholm loses only
1e. Fifty-nine mothers pay the toll
per 10000 live births in the United
States proper-but the District Of
Columbia loses 81.
Trends In infant mortality are
bit better, although bad enough. Thus,
while the United States lost so chill
dren under one year Of age per 1000
live births, this 'recSZ)k vas bettered