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73
The Infant Before, During and After Birth up to Five
Years of Age.
The factors influencing infant mortality may be divided into
the three following classes:—(1) Ante-natal, acting through the
mother and dependent on her health; (2) Natal, also to a great
extent due to the condition of the mother, e.g., causes of difficult
and delayed parturition, as well as to want of skill on the part of
the doctor or midwife; (3) Post-natal, due to environmental
conditions.
1. Ante-natal Period.—The maintenance of the health of the
mother during the ante-natal or child-bearing period is of vast
importance to the future of both mother and child. During the
period in question the life of the future child may be lost, shortened,
or permanently affected by neglect of the laws of hygiene ; on the
other hand, care on the part of the mother and an observance of
hygienic rules will establish the health of the mother and preserve
the life of the child to the nation.
The chief dangers affecting the life of the infant during this
period are (a) miscarriage, (b) still-birth.
(a) There is no statistical evidence to show the proportion
of miscarriages to live births in the Borough, but there
is no reason to believe they are more or less numerous than in
other parts of the country. Estimates have, however, been
made of the proportion of miscarriages to still-births, and the
average estimate arrived at is 4 miscarriages to 1 still-birth.
If we apply this rate to Hackney, we shall get a local rate
which will be rather startling as to the loss in infant life due
to this cause alone. During the year 1914 there were 174
still-births notified to me; therefore, on the basis of the above
estimate, there were 696 miscarriages.