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BUILDING THE NATION THROUGH WOMEN'S HEALTH: MODERN ...

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Suiyuan 3<br />

Hebei 50<br />

Shaanxi 3<br />

Shandong 10<br />

Gansu 2<br />

Shanxi 7<br />

Henan 2<br />

Jiangsu 26<br />

Sichuan 5<br />

Anhui 1<br />

Zhejiang 5<br />

Jiangxi 4<br />

Fujian 2<br />

Hunan 5<br />

Guangdong 1<br />

As we know, the high infant and maternal mortality rates can be traced back to unsanitary<br />

practices during childbirth. Old-style midwives had higher death rates from “birth injury,”<br />

“convulsions,” and infant tetanus. Furthermore, high infant mortality was due to preventable<br />

diseases and conditions – diarrhea, malnutrition, tetanus, and birth injury – that even illiterate,<br />

old-style midwives could learn to prevent. Although exact numbers are not available, Yang<br />

found that higher income families had much lower maternal and infant death rates, and that there<br />

were associated lower maternal and infant deaths among those who received antenatal care.<br />

According to Yang, “During recent years there has been a definite recognition and appreciation<br />

of modern medicine due to the benefits received, resulting in increased hospital deliveries where<br />

such facilities exist. The latter has saved many lives of both mothers and babies mainly by<br />

physiological non-interference and proper technique.” 409 Yang used simple techniques of aseptic<br />

births to quickly reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.<br />

409 Marion Yang, "Letter to the Editor."<br />

164

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