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The illegitimate infant death rate of 150 for 1926 compares very unfavourably indeed with the
death rate of 60 for all infants and the death rate of 53 of legitimate infants. Indeed, the illegitimate
death rate is nearly three times higher than the death rate of legitimate infants. This matter was
dealt with very fully in my previous report, and the figures for 1926 emphasize the observations
made therein.
Maternal Mortality.
In 1926 there were nine deaths of Kensington women from diseases or accidents directly
connected with child-birth, and this figure represents a death rate of 3.3 mothers per 1,000 births
The rate for London for 1925, the last year for which figures are available, was 3.2.
The actual causes of death were:—
Puerperal Fever 6
Accidents of Pregnancy and Parturition 3
9
There are ante-natal clinics at six of the seven Infant Welfare Centres in the Borough; at the
seventh Centre an ante-natal clinic will shortly be established, but at present 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.11. In addition, the Queen Charlotte's Hospital
Authorities hold a special ante-natal clinic at their Nurses' Home in Ladbroke Grove.
In 1926, there were 2,717 births in Kensington and of these 705 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 1,181 of the 2,012 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 831 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 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.
There is remarkable statistical testimony to support this statement. During the last five
years there has been only one maternal death following confinement amongst the women who have
attended ante-natal clinics in the Borough during pregnancy, whereas there have been fifty-seven
deaths amongst those women who have not attended ante-natal clinics.