Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 43, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 April 1935 — Page 19

APRIL 30, 1935

SURVEY SHOWS 1 NECESSITY FOR PRE-NATAL AID. 54 Per Cent of Mortality . Cases Traced to Lack of Attention. The Children’s Bureau in Washington, in its effort to check the deaths connected with childbirth, made a survey of recent deaths in 13 states, including Alabama. Lack of pre-natal care seemed to be responsible for a large number of the casualties. In fact the advisory committee of the Children’s Bureau says that 51 per cent of the women in the reports had had no pre-natal examination by a physician. In only 1 per cent was the care up to the standard that it is the right of every pregnant patient to have and to demand, the report states. The study covered cases in two recent years within 11 of the states, and a one-year check-up in the other two states. Physicians on staffs of state boards of health or of the U. S. Children's Bureau interviewed the physicians who attended the deaths from puerperal causes. 7537 Fatality Cases In an analysis of the report by Dr. Frances C. Rothert of the bureau. it is stated: “In these states and years, 7537 deaths were assigned by the division of vital statistics of the bureau of the census to the group ‘the puerperal states’ in accordance with the international list of causes of death. 1920 revision, and the manual of joint causes of death. These deaths were taken as the basis of the study. A copy of each death certificate, and when passible the birth certificate of the infant, was obtained from the state bureaus of vital statistics each month and the attending physician or midwife was visited as soon as possible thereafter. In hospital cases the hospital also was visited. Physicians Give Aid * The physicians interviewed were most co-operative in giving time and information for the study. While relatively few had kept case histories, their memory of the case was usually vivid. But in many cases either the opportunity or the facilities for a thorough study of the case had been lacking. In relatively few cases had any laboratory work other than urinalysis or blood pressure examination been done.” Investigation showed that in a number of these cases, death was not due to causes connected with maternity, and the number was thus reduced to 7380; on this basis the maternal mortality rate was 5.2 per thousand live births. The advisory committee commented fully on various factors of the problem. “For the deaths of the women who had no prenatal examination the attending physician could hardly be held responsible, for he was not consulted until the emergency had arisen,” the committee states. “Gross ignorance, carelessness, and sociological and economic problems all had a share in this responsibility. However, in those cases in which the physician was consulted he was responsible for providing adequate maternal care; and in many of these cases physicians failed in their responsibility, for half the women who did consult a physician had poor prenatal care,” Operative Factor Commenting on the fact that half of the women had some operative procedure before death, the committee said: “In a study of this type the physician’s ability to do well the operation he has chosen can be evaluated only by the results, which show that many of the operations either were badly chosen or were poorly done. In nearly 40 per cent of these operative deliveries it was admitted by the physicians that their technique was at least unsatisfactory as to asepsis. It is therefore not to be wondered at that 26 per cent of the deaths following forceps deliveries and 19 per cent of the deaths following versiotio were due to sepsis. . . , An operative delivery is a surgical procedure and should not be undertaken by physicians untrained in surgical technique. It is evident that many of these physicians did not have such training.” Powdered Fruit juices, milk products, and beverage extracts are being made in powdered form, with au atomizer, Ul ft Danish concern. j

Many American Children Feel Depression Effects

Bad Housing One of Evils Caused by Economic Upheaval. BY OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON NE.V Service Staff Writer. The first week of May has been known briefly as “Child Health V'eek” since 1930 when ex-President Herbert Hoover called the roll for the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection. At that time the Children's Charter was drawn up with 19 articles, pledged toward the furtherance of the child's “spiritual and moral training,” rights of citizenship and the general betterance of his condition to help him “stand firm under the pressure of life.” Let me quote Article 7 of the charter: “For every child a dwelling-place, safe, sanitary, and wholesome, with reasonable provisions for privacy; free from conditions which tend to thwart his development; and a home environment harmonious and enriching.” Conditions Worse Now At this time, then, when after five years of depression, housing conditions have grown rapidly worse instead of better, it seems necessary to accent every word of that paragraph. With families crowded into close quarters, children have little or no opportunity for decent privacy. Babies and children living in turmoil and dirt have little experience of “harmonious environment.” The social or rather anti-social effects of this are so grave that economists and sociologists are already writing their warnings large in their reports. Any blind man can see that unless such handicaps are quickly erased the future looks forbidding. What is sown today will be reaped tomorrow. Gs what good is a Department of Justice and a million penal institutions as long as we nurse the seeds of crime and delinquency in ratholes? The lettered agencies of better housing are doing what they can. U. S. Seeks to Improve Homes One would have to be a clairvoyant to understand their precise functioning, but this much is certain: that the government is endeavoring to correct the situation

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

by providing means and methods by which homes may be improved. Children need air, light and sun, decent places to play, and enough room to be themselves. Character depends on self-respect, and on home respect. Parents have a responsibility in this too, most decidedly. One is to keep a home, however small, as orderly as possible. A place for everything and everything clean and in its place (as far as is humanly possible) should be part of the Parent’s Charter. There should be concerted effort of individuals, communities, states and the Federal government to improve the lot of the chiid, who from the standpoint of environment has never had a chance. ‘STORiImr ALWAYS LIES Pleasure Over Children Telling Truth Will Aid Training. Does your child tell you the truth? Some persons think that when children say something that is not exactly true, it is a lie. They think that all lies are just the same. Some children tell lies to escape punishment. Parents need not be frightened by such lies, but children must be taught not to be afraid to tell what they have done. The child must realize that he pays for all the bad things that he does. He must see that his parents are pleased when he tells the truth. Sometimes children tell you that they saw a fairy or a fox or something else which they didn’t actually see . The mother can tell him that that is a nice story, but it will be a nicer one if he says, before he begins, that he is going to tell a make-believe story. Suitable Carriage. The baby’s carriage should be well balanced, have an adjustable top, and be equipped with a safety strap for use when the baby is old enough to sit up. See that it is large enough for the baby to lie in at full length.

CHILD SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO PROTECT SELF Health Precautions Needed to Help Prevent Infections. From the crawling stage to school age, the child is “into everything.” He handles objects, explores liis surroundings and is thus often exposed to infection. But even the young child can be trained to take certain precautions. Os course an individual towel should be provided for him. If it is marked with a certain color, he will easily be reminded to use that one exclusively. Keep his toys clean. Provide a

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separate handkerchief for the child and see that he covers his rnoutlt when he coughs or sneezes. The child should be vaccinated against smallpox while still a baby. Before he is 2 years old, he should have a protective inoculation against diphtheria. If the child seems feverish or unsually restless, or if he has any slight symytoms, put him to bed and send for the doctor, taking no chances that something serious might develop. The child of 2 to 6 should have a thorough physical examination regularly—at least twice a year, even if there is apparently nothing the matter with him. During this period slight physical defects are likely to develop, requiring prompt attention. Check Playmates Parents are the playmates of their child. He may be learning from them to play fair or to cheat. Be careful about letting a little child out of your sight with children of whom you know nothing.