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17
It should be noted that the Health Visiting Staff
was 11 before the war, but only 7 in 1946.
Premature Infants.—Of the births belonging to
the Borough, in 65 cases the low birth weight brought
the children within the definition of Premature infants,"
13 being born at home and 52 in a hospital or
nursing home. One of the former group and 14 of the
latter died before the end of one month but the
majority of the remainder not only survived but
eventually gained normal weight and development.
Illegitimate Infants.—74 of the live births which
occurred during the year were illegitimate, the percentage
being 5.6 which is rather higher than the
pre-war rate. The Council makes a grant through
the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee
to a local association who provide the services
of an experienced social worker for the welfare
of the illegitimate child and unmarried mother.
Infant Life Protection.—Only one foster mother,
with one child, was on the register at the end of the
year. For some years, there has been disinclination
on the part of women to undertake this work. To
some extent, the need has been met by the nurseries.
Extensions of Work.—During the year, in addition
to providing extra sessions to cope with the
increasing work of the Maternity Clinic and the
Infant Consultations, it was also found necessary to
resume the Dental Clinic, which had been suspended
during the war, and to introduce a Diphtheria
Immunisation Clinic. Statistics with regard to these
activites follow.