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Infant Mortality.—There were 108 deaths of infants under
twelve months of age, giving an infant mortality rate of 42.42 per
1,000 births. This may be compared with the rate for the previous
year of 40.80. The deaths of illegitimate infants numbered 16,
giving an illegitimate infant death rate of 87.91.
The infant Mortality Rate compares favourably with that for
England and Wales (43) and the County of London (41). It is
interesting to note that at the beginning of the century the
Corresponding rate for the borough was 160. Of the 108 infant
deaths, twenty were under 24 hours; twenty 1 to 7 days; and sixteen
1 to 4 weeks old at the time of death. Thus 51.9 per cent. of the
infant deaths took place before the child reached the age of 4 weeks.
Maternal Mortality.—4 maternal deaths, giving a maternal
Mortality rate of 1.54 per 1,000 births, live and still.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The activities of the Council under this heading were continued
during 1946 with only a few variations noted below.
Grants. —Except in the case of the Southwark Diocesan Association
no variation was made in the grants paid by the Council to
Various bodies carrying on work ancillary to the scheme for
Maternity and child welfare.
Visiting.—The Health Visitors paid 10,171 home visits to children
under one; 5,970 to children between 1 and 5; and 5,583 prenatal
visits. The total number of home visits for all purposes during
the year paid by Health Visitors was 27,455.
Infant Welfare Centres.—667 sessions, 27,316 attendances.
Ante-Natal Clinics.—267 sessions, 4,928 attendances.
Owing to the large increase in the attendances at the antenatal
clinics an additional session was arranged to be held at Chatham
Hall. This commenced on May 8th.
Post-Natal Clinics. —52 sessions, 509 attendances. Cases
found to require, on medical grounds, advice on birth control, were
deferred by agreement to the North Kensington Women's Welfare
Centre.
Toddlers' Clinic.—During the war the special toddlers'
clinics were discontinued, the children between 1 and 5 being seen
a t the usual infant welfare centre.
On January 12th, however, the separate clinics were resumed
u nder a specially appointed medical officer. The clinics are held
alternate weeks at five of the welfare centres, and during the year
528 children attended, the total attendances being 1,053.
Mothercraft Classes.—277 meetings, 4,517 attendances.