Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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45
House, Macaulay Road. Wandsworth, which is an institution
conducted by the Southwark Diocesan Association for Moral
Welfare, and affiliated to the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare
scheme. The grant is also intended to cover the cost of Battersea
unmarried mothers who are sent into other approved homes by
the Association.
The number of Battersea mothers received in the Association's
homes with their babies during 1938 was 13, and 2 admitted during
1937 remained for some part of 1938. These 15 mothers were
maintained for 1,316 days in all during the year.
Home Helps.
Facilities are provided by the Council in suitable cases for
assistance in the home during the mother's lying-in period, or in
case of temporary illness of an expectant or nursing mother.
The mother herself is given the choice of a woman (subject,
however, to approval by the Assistant Medical Officer), and details
of the service to be rendered, times, &c., are arranged between them.
The Committee then vote a grant, according to the necessities of the
case.
During the year grants totalling £9 16s. 0d. were made in
nine cases.
Maternal Mortality.
During 1938, there were 6 deaths of women from diseases or
accidents of child-birth which is equivalent to a fatality rate of
2.76 per 1,000 births (live and still), as compared with 4 deaths
and a fatality rate of 1.81 in 1937.
The certified cases of death were:—
Sepsis following natural abortion | 1 |
Puerperal septicæmia | 1 |
Post puerperal pulmonary embolism and phlebitis | 1 |
(a) Septicæmia, (b) osteomyelitis of ilium, (c) recent delivery | 1 |
(a) Pulmonary embolism, (b) femoral throm-bosis, (c) puerperal sepsis | 1 |
Septic endometritis following cæsarean section | 1 |
All these deaths occurred in hospital.
In addition there were four maternal deaths in hospital not
ascribed to causes directly associated with the puerperium.
The rates for London and England and Wales in 1938 were
1.86 and 2.97 respectively.