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13
[1915
INFANT MORTALITY.
Infant Deaths, 805; Mortality Rate, 107—The deaths of 805
infants under one year old were registered during the year, representing an
infant mortality rate of 107 per thousand infants born. This rate is 2 per
1,000 below the mean annual record of the preceding 10 years, and is 3 per
1,000 above the rate of 1914; whereas it equalled that of 1913; while it was
21 per 1,000 births in excess of the mortality of 1912, when the rate was
86 per 1,000 births.
The mortality in the registration sub-districts ranged from 65 per 1,000
births in Tufnell, to 135 in Tollington, which district frequently exhibits
high rates. Thus in 1905 it was 117; in 1906, 127; in 1907, 132; and in
1911, 131, while the mean decennial rate was 109. An examination of the
subsequent Table shows that in Tollington, Upper Holloway, Lower
Holloway, Barnsbury and Islington South East, the average rates are far
too high. Attention is also drawn to Table XIII., which proves that an
enormous mortality occurs in the earlier weeks of the infants' lives,
which are largely due to causes which are preventable, if only the mothers
could be reached before as well as after, the births of their children, so
as to instruct them or to put them in touch with the philanthropic institutions
of the borough or of the metropolis, where they would have the benefit
of such medical or other assistance that they required. This can be done
by Health Visitors, and is one of the many reasons why the Council is
invited by the Government to appoint them.