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CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The fall in the birth rate observed since 1966 has continued, and in
1968 there were 2,928 notified births, 260 fewer than in I967 - a fall of
8.29%.
Again, fewer births has resulted in greater availability of maternity
beds and a rise in the proportion of institutional confinements. In 1968,
2,891 out of 2,928 births took place in hospital, i.e., 97% as compared
with 95% in 1967.
With the smaller number of children being born, there are fewer
attendances at ante=natal0 child welfare and toddler sessions. The total
attendance of children under five years of age fell by 1,062 but against
this must be set the larger time spent on each individual child, because
attention is focussed on individual progress and the carrying out of
special tests. An increasing number of children also attend clinics held
by their own doctors.
1967
1968
Ante-natal and post-natal clinics:
Total number of sessions 692 585
Total attendances 3,737 3,382
Number of women attending during year-
Ante-natal * 1,073 1,008
Post-natal 6 29
Child welfare clinics:
Total number of sessions (infant
welfare and toddlers) 1,420 1,359
Total attendances 26,269 25,207
Number of children attending during year-
Born in current year 2,289 2,046
Born in preceding five years 3,819 3,403
Total attendances at special
toddlers clinics 2,778 2,427
Council Day Nurseries.
At the beginning of the year, reorganisation of the Council's day
nurseries took place to effect increases in the numbers of approved places
and numbers in the "weighted registers". As will be seen from the table
overleaf, this has resulted in increases in the total daily attendances
and the average daily attendances. The figures for the average
percentage daily occupation have, except for holiday periods, been
consistently over 80# during the year, on one occasion attaining a
maximum of 90.7$; during I967 there were very few occasions on which
the 80$ mark was exceeded and the maximum recorded was 88.7%.
The waiting list of children awaiting attendance at the end of the
year was of similar order to that at the beginning, although considerable
fluctuations had taken place during the year. There were grounds for
believing that this did not represent the situation fully. Following
receipt of Ministry of Health Circulars 36/68 and 37/68, a review of
arrangements for the day care of children, including the day nursery
provision, was instituted.