--------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----- |1927|1928|1929|1930|1931|1932|1933|1934|1935 --------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----- Maternal mortality, | | | | | | | | | _including_ septic | | | | | | | | | abortion-- | | | | | | | | | Number | 137| 134| 129| 136| 127| 101| 108| 118| 101 Rate |4·91|4·93|4·82|5·08|4·77|4·08|4·44|4·85|4·21 | | | | | | | | | Maternal mortality, | | | | | | | | | _excluding_ septic | | | | | | | | | abortion-- | | | | | | | | | Number | 123| 120| 110| 106| 98| 75| 82| 76| 78 Rate |4·41|4·42|4·11|3·96|3·68|3·02|3·37|3·12|3·25 | | | | | | | | | Puerperal septicæmia-- | | | | | | | | | Number | 56| 42| 30| 27| 18| 13| 14| 17| 8 Rate |2·01|1·54|1·12|1·01|0·68|0·52|0·58|0·70|0·33 | | | | | | | | | Septic abortion-- | | | | | | | | | Number-- | | | | | | | | | Married |} | | {| 26| 26| 24| 16| 29| 17 |} 14| 14| 19{| | | | | | Single |} | | {| 4| 3| 2| 10| 13| 6 Rate |0·50|0·51|0·71|1·12|1·09|1·04 1·07|1·73|0·96 --------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----- [Illustration: Maternal Mortality. Showing the Deathrate per 1,000 Live Births from Certain Causes 1927-1935.] One of the unfortunate features of this matter from the public health point of view is the extent to which this increase in deaths from abortion sepsis is counterbalancing and masking the very real improvement which has been achieved by the obstetrical services in the work for which they may justly be held responsible. According to the international system of recording, these cases are included in the total maternal mortality. Actually in New Zealand in the five-year period mentioned, abortion sepsis was responsible for one-quarter of the total maternal deaths. In the larger urban areas the position is even more unfortunate, as the following instance will indicate:-- _Maternal Mortality in Urban Areas for the Five-year Period, 1930-34._