View report page

36
SECTION IV. MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
1 INFANT AND CHILD MORTALITY.
Particulars as to the general infant mortality, and the mortality
among illegitimate infants, are given in Section I. of this report.
VARIATIONS IN FACTORS IN INFLUENCING INFANT
AND CHILD MORTALITY, 1901-1921.
An analysis of the changes in the infant and child mortality
of Croydon over a period of years, and of the variation in the chief
factors producing that mortality, is likely to be of value in indicating
the directions in which the greatest and least degree of progress
have been made hitherto, and in suggesting the course along which
further development should tend. A summary of the detailed statement
is given on page 41.
The following paragraphs and the tables on pages 37, 43 & 44
contain a statement of the changes in mortality in infancy (0—1
years), in early childhood (1—5 years), and during school life
(5-15 years) over a period of 21 years, from 1901 to 1921. The death
rates are calculated, not on the total population, but on the population
actually exposed to the particular risks, i.e., the population
aged 0—1, 1—5, and 5—15 in each year; only on such a basis can
any accurate view of the changes be obtained. These populations
are calculated from those recorded at the censuses of 1901, 1911,
and 1921—hence the inclusion of these three years in the period
under review.
As the results for individual years may show a considerable
margin of error through paucity of data, the figures are grouped
in periods, the first three of 5 years each, the last of 6 years.
It is of some interest in this connection to record the stages of
development of two measures specifically directed towards the control
of infant and child mortality, viz., the appointment of health
visitors and the opening of Infant Welfare Centres. Two health
visitors were appointed in 1901, and were engaged among other
duties in visiting registered births. The number was increased to
three in 1903, to five in 1908, and to seven in 1915, most of the
health visitors being engaged in maternity and child welfare work,
school nursing and other work. In 1914 the Council appointed a
whole-time health visitor for maternity and child welfare work in
connection with the opening of the Municipal Welfare Centre. In
1918 two health visitors, engaged wholly in maternity and child
welfare work were transferred from the service of the Croydon