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16
ABOVE STANDARD DEATHS.
In almost every area there is a number of infant births and deaths occurring in those betterclass
homes where it is reasonable to assume that the children receive every care and all
requisite medical and nursing assistance. These are called "above standard" cases and, although
it is difficult to make certain that none is included under this heading in which the attention of a
Woman Health Officer might prove beneficial, they are not generally visited because, in the first
place, the Health Officer may not be welcomed and, in the second place, she can occupy
her time more profitably in visiting homes in the poorer quarters.
In 1925 the "above standard" births numbered 739 and the deaths 23, giving an infantile
mortality rate of 31.
The 2,107 births and 200 deaths not "above standard" in 1925 give an infantile mortality
rate of 95.

Maternal Mortality.
In 1925 there were ten deaths of Kensington women from diseases or accidents directly
connected with child-birth, and this figure represents a death rate of 3.5 mothers per 1,000 births.
The rate for London for 1924, the last year for which figures are available, was 3.08.
The actual causes of death were:—
Puerperal Fever 5
Accidents of Pregnancy and Parturition 5
10
There are ante-natal clinics at six of the seven Infant Welfare Centres in the Borough; at the
seventh Centre, ante-natal advice is given privately at the infant welfare consultations; and an
ante-natal session is held at the Baby Clinic at No. 92, Tavistock Road, W. ll. In addition, the
Queen Charlotte's Hospital Authorities hold a special ante-natal clinic at their Nurses Home in
Ladbroke Grove.
In 1925, there were 2,846 births in Kensington and of these 739 may be said to have occurred
in families which are regarded as "above standard" financially and do not come within the scope
of the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme. In respect of 1,249 of the 2,107 births
in families regarded as coming within the scope of the Council's scheme, the expectant mothers
received ante-natal advice at the special clinics held at the Queen Charlotte's Nurses' Home and
the Infant Welfare Institutions. The women who gave birth to the remaining 858 children may have
received professional ante-natal attention from private medical men or at hospitals, but it is
probable that the majority did not secure for themselves the advantages of that skilled
advice which is now generally recognised to be of the greatest value.
It is pleasing to note that the number of expectant working class women receiving ante-natal
advice is increasing and this year it represents more than 50% of the total, but it is still important
to secure an even better attendance of expectant mothers and efforts in this direction should be
continued. If the maternal mortality rate is to be lowered, more women must be induced to attend
the ante-natal clinics.