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ante-natal clinics. It is clear from the attendances at antenatal
clinics that more women are taking advantage of these
facilities as they become more widely known, and it is to
be expected that when the full effects of the ante-natal
clinics is felt, a reduction in the infant deaths due to
prematurity will result.
The deaths due to congenital malformations cannot, of
course, be avoided; these will always occur and are beyond
our control. These, however, only amount to approximately
10 per 1,000 and is the irreducible figure of the infant
mortality rate to be aimed at.
Other principal causes of infantile mortality are Bronchopneumonia
and Gastro-enteritis. These deaths are
generally due to the lack of proper mothering and could
be avoided without much difficulty if the children were
properly nursed.
Enteritis is indubitably a preventable disease; cleanliness
is of first importance and that can only be attained
by such services as water, milk, housing, &c., being closely
controlled and supervised. The importance of personal
hygiene and general cleanliness is impressed upon all
those who attend the clinics as it is through the medium of
education that better results may be attained.
Broncho-pneumonia.—This may be accounted for in one
sentence:—Overcrowding and over-clothing. The former
particularly in the ease of bedrooms.
The figures tabulated below, indicate in some measure
the extent of the ground to be covered on the one hand,
and on the other the success of the work accomplished in
the interests of Maternity and Child Welfare:—
Number of Births registered during the year 2,772
Corrected Number of Births 1,966
The corrected figures represents a Birth-rate per 1,000 of
the population of the Borough of 15.1
Corrected Number of Deaths of Infants under one year,
of whom 38 died under one week 130
Legitimate Infants 114, or 64 per 1,000 Births.
Illegitimate Infants 16, or 119 per 1,000 Births.
Infant Mortality Rate per 1,000 Births 68