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98
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In two of them the mothers are received a few months prior to the
confinement and are expected to remain at least six months after.
In one home the mothers, if able, do the domestic work of the house
and are therefore with their babies all day—27 mothers with their
babies were received during the year. In another, the mothers go
out to work and are expected to contribute towards the keep of the
children and themselves—16 mothers and 17 children were received
during the year. The third has a separate hostel for the children—
19 mothers passed through the home and six children were placed
in the hostel.
Two hostels, also in connection with rescue work, receive the
mother after the birth of the child and she is expected to remain
there with the child for at least six months, going out to work if
possible. 19 mothers passed through this home in 1919.
In all the above hostels arrangements have been made for a
medical man to attend when necessary. A number of the infants
attend at the most convenient Infant Welfare Centre.
Investigations were made into the cases of 21 stillbirths,
four of which were premature, nine were delivered by midwives,
four occurred in institutions, three in private nursing homes and
five were doctors' cases.
Advice was given as to the care of the health of the mother,
and in the event of her again becoming pregnant she was invited to
attend the Ante-natal Clinic.
Of the 359 deaths of infants under one year of age, 94 had been
previously visited; 147 occurred under the age of two weeks and
under ordinary circumstances would not have been visited by the
health visitors. Of the 118 remaining, 21 were born and died in
institutions, three were nurse children, two were found deserted,
one birth was not notified until after death, one wrong address was
given, eight were visited ineffectually, 27 were not visited, and
38 occurred in localities where visiting was not considered necessary,
as it was known a medical practitioner was in constant attendance.