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44
Since January, 1936, onwards each mother who booked the
district midwife has been supplied with a sterilised maternity outfit,
the cost of which, or in necessitous cases, some portion thereof, is
included in the fee assessed.
Thirty-three of the 165 cases attended during the year were
dealt with by the relief midwife who, as reported in the last annual
report, has been appointed to assist the district midwife.
Southwark Diocesan Homes.
For some years past the Council has contributed towards the
cost of the maintenance during the period before and after confinement
of unmarried mothers and their children resident in the district,
by the Southwark Diocesan Association for Moral Welfare, in St.
Mary's House, Macaulay Road, Wandsworth, which is an institution
affiliated to the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare scheme.
They also contribute to the cost of Battersea unmarried mothers
who are sent into other approved homes by the Association.
The Council have since 1933 made a contribution of £150 per
annum, in lieu of per capita payments formerly made.
The number of Battersea mothers received in the Association's
homes with their babies during 1936 was 4, and 3 admitted during
1935 remained for some part of 1936. These seven mothers were
maintained for 952 days in all during the year.
Home Helps.
Facilities are provided by the Council in suitable cases for
assistance in the home during the mother's lying-in period, or in
case of temporary illness of an expectant or nursing mother, and a
list of women recognised for the service is kept by the Health
Visiting staff, from which applicants are permitted to choose a
suitable woman.
This service has not been used to a great extent and during
1936 the services of home helps were only provided in 7 cases for a
total period of 13 weeks. The grants voted by the Committee in
these 7 cases totalled £7 13s.
Maternal Mortality.
During 1936, there were 5 deaths of women from diseases or
accidents of child-birth which is equivalent to a fatality rate of
2-29 per 1,000 births (live and still), as compared with 4 deaths
and a fatalitv rate of 1-84 in 1935.
The certified causes of death were :—
Puerperal sepsis
3
Obstructed labour, craniotomy, &c.
1
Hyperemesis gravidarum
1
All these deaths occurred in hospital.