Show MATERNITY DEATH RATE IN UTAH STILL DROPPING I 1 only four utah mothers died during the month of september from causes incident to childbearing 1 1 according to the division Divisi oi of maternal and child health of the utah state board of health I 1 out of one thousand and dinty nine births reported to the division of vital statistics during durin the same period thus there w were ere fewer than four puerperal maternal deaths per 1000 live births in utah during the thirty one deaths have resulted I 1 from born such causes to date this year the total number of maternal deaths last year was forty this means a maternal death rate of 30 compared to 32 per 1000 live births for the first nine months of 1939 and 42 tor for the rive year average 1934 1938 both utah and the nation as indicated by these figures are enjoying declining death rates from froin this cause utah ranks well up however among the several states in the matter of safety in childbearing the number of maternal deaths per 1000 live births in utah in 1937 was 53 compared with 49 for the nation at large the five year average 1933 1937 in utah is 43 per 1000 live births compared with the national average for the same period of 57 this relatively good record can be much improved however it was stated at the ofhie of the board of health the united states although oae one of the wealthiest and most enlightened countries in the world still has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among civilized countries no single cause should be blamed lor this unnecessary sacrifice of life but it is significant that during 1936 nearly women 11 the united states gave birth to i babies without the advantage or a physicians care at delivery the i great majority of the other 1000 american mothers those who did receive a physicians care had no assistance from a qualified nurse after the baby came some of these less fortunate mothers and babies live in utah and it is to aid in improving their chances for proper care and treatment that the state board ol of health through its division of maternal and child health and with the splendid cooperation of the medical profession has established prenatal and child health conferences in the several counties at these conferences expect tant lanil mothers receive instruction in in the importance of proper care during pregnancy the best meth for providing such care how to prepare for the expected arrival and how low to care for hirn him after ho he lias has been safely delivered every mother should place herself under the care of a physician physic im as soon as she is aware awai of her pregnancy and an d follow fo 1 ow instructions ins aru c il 0 n s faithfully said a id dr D r L J B beebe e e b e director of the division divi sion of maternal and child health all expectant mothers living in localities wherte where prenatal conferences are held are arc entitled and encouraged to attend dr beebe said more detailed information may be secured from the county public health nurse the district public health office located at ogden provo price richfield and cedar city the davis county f U giltime health unit at farmington or by writing directly to the utah state board of health state capitol building salt lake city |