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44
Southwark Diocesan Homes.
For some years past the Council has contributed towards the
cost of maintaining before, during and after confinement
unmarried mothers and their children resident in the district, in St.
Mary's House, Macaulay Road, Wandsworth, which is an institution
conducted by the Southwark Diocesan Association for Moral Welfare,
and 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 1937 was 6, and 2 admitted during
1936 remained for some part of 1937. These eight mothers were
maintained for 578 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, however, was not used during 1937.
Maternal Mortality.
During 1937, there were 4 deaths of women from diseases or
accidents of child-birth which is equivalent to a fatality rate of
1.81 per 1,000 births (live and still), as compared with 5 deaths
and a fatality rate of 2.29 in 1936.
The certified causes ofdeath were:—
Ectopic gestation 1
Ruptured uterus 1
Post partum haemorrhage 1
do. and retained placenta 1
Three of these deaths occurred in hospital and one at home.
In addition there was one maternal death in hospital not
ascribed to causes directly associated with the puerperium.
The rates for London and England and Wales in 1937 were
2.22 and 3.11 respectively.