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85
Infantile Mortality in Greenwich during 1929.
During the year 1929 there were 116 deaths of children below
the age of one year. This figure, unfortunately, is 21 higher
than the figure for 1928 and represents an Infantile Mortality
rate of 70 per thousand births as against 53 for 1928 and an
average of 67 for the past ten years. It is disappointing to be
unable to record a more satisfactory condition of affairs, and it
is not easy to account satisfactorily for the whole of this increase.
Admittedly the Infantile Mortality rates both for London and
the Country generally were higher than they were during the
preceding few years, and this is accounted for mainly by the
exceptionally severe cold which was experienced during the first
quarter of the year 1929. So far as Greenwich is concerned.
Pneumonia and Bronchitis accounted for a total of 28 deaths
(compared with a total of 12 only for the preceding year) the
majority of which occurred during the first quarter of the year.
Whooping Cough too was prevalent during 1929 and this was
the cause of death in 9 instances, as compared with 3 only in
1928.
A rather disturbing feature was the relatively large
number of deaths due to premature birth, the 1929 figure being
26 as compared with 18 only in 1928. It is hoped in the near
future, to adopt measures which will result in a more exhaustive
study of the causes of premature birth, from which it is hoped
to reduce very greatly the mortality from this cause.
Every case of Infantile Mortality is the subject of a
special enquiry, more particularly as to the extent to which use has
been made by the mother of the Council's Ante-natal and Infant
Welfare Centres. During the year under review, the largest
group, 47 out of the 116, comprised those mothers who had
not attended either an Ante-natal or Infant Welfare Centre. In
one case the report is very significant, being to the effect that
although the mother was intelligent, the husband greatly discouraged her attending the Centre, preferring the advice of the
Grandmother (who was of an ignorant type). Happily one very
rarely hears now of prejudice against Welfare Centres. It was
apparent, however, in several other cases that ignorant but wellmeant
advice from relatives, was followed with disastrous results.
In the next group are included those mothers who had
attended Ante-natal Centres, but not Welfare Centres. These
numbered 11, in 5 of which cases the baby's death took place
within a day or so of birth; the remaining 6 cases did not call
for special comment except that in one instance prematurity,
which was the cause of death, was due to a fall sustained by the
mother. In another instance the baby was suffocated in bed;