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 Harrow]
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57
68 infants failed to survive one month. The neonatal mortality
or the death rate per 1,000 births occurring in infants at under one
month was therefore 21, constituting 54 per cent. of the total infant mortality rate.
The distribution of these deaths per 1,000 births amongst infants of different ages is set out below, with the corresponding figures for the country as a whole for the year 1937:—
Local. 1938. | England & Wales. 1937. | |
---|---|---|
Under 1 Day | 8.5 | 10.82 |
1—7 Days | 8.2 | 11.20 |
1—4 Weeks | 3.9 | 7.73 |
Total | 20.6 | 29.75 |
28 of the neonatal fatalities occurred in premature infants.
In one of these the onset of the premature labour was due to antepartum
haemorrhage and in another four to some abnormal state
of the mother (nephritis, toxæmia, etc.). In one instance labour
had been induced; in two cases there was a twin pregnancy. In
13 cases the infant suffered from congenital abnormality (congenital
heart, 4). In 11 instances there was a history of difficulty in
labour. In seven death was ascribed to atelectasis (twins, 2;
maternal toxæmia, 1; and icterus, 2). In most of these cases
the death occurred very shortly after delivery. Of the remaining
infants who survived the first week but died within the first month,
the cause of death in one was bronchitis, and in another leukaemia.
The following table is an analysis of the causes of death of those infants of ages between one and twelve months :—
1-3 Mths. | 3-6 Mths. | 6-9 Mths. | 9-12 Mths. | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Infectious Disease | - | - | - | - |
Pneumonia & Bronchitis | 6 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
Tuberculosis | - | - | 1 | - |
Diarrhœal Diseases | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
Deficient Inherent Vitality | 4 | - | - | - |
Violence | - | 1 | 1 | - |
Other Causes | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Total | 17 | 8 | 18 | 15 |