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In the previous year comment was made on the
sudden rise to 57.86 per 1,000 in the Infant
Mortality rate. Its return in 1941 to just over
40 is probably an indication that the 1940 figure
was in fact, due to abnormal war and climatic
conditions - (l) Gastro-Enteritis from the
combination of the climatic conditions with the
beginning of air raid conditions, and (2) the still
further rise due to pneumonia, bronchitis and other
respiratory complaints contemporaneous with hard
weather conditions and the upset to normal family
life by air raids and shelter conditions.
Prematurity.
In the analysis submitted on page 12 prematurity
has been considered to be the first cause of death,
if no abnormality or birth injury, congenital or
otherwise, was mentioned in the death certificate.
There were 16 such cases.
Prematurity accounted for more than half of
the deaths of infants in the first week of life,
and in the second week period one other death
occurred from prematurity. Of the neo-natal
mortality in the first month of life prematurity
accounted for 39% of the deaths.
The stubborn core of infant mortality is still
in the first week of life and its greatest cause
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