View report page

64
known to the Health Visitors through other sources, were visited in their homes
and informed, both verbally and by means of a leaflet, of the facilities
available in Holborn; they also received instruction in the hygiene of pregnancy,
and if not already in attendance at an ante-natal centre they were advised to
attend.
Confinement in Institutions in Relation to Housing Conditions.
Expectant mothers whose home circumstances make confinement at home
especially undesirable are advised to enter hospital for confinement. In order to
provide accommodation for those who are willing to take this advice an arrangement
has been made with one of the principal Maternity Hospitals within reach
of Holborn to accept normal cases on domestic grounds only.
Special records have been kept of the home conditions of 154 expectant
mothers visited during 1938, each case being followed up either to a successful
issue or until it became clear that the woman would not enter hospital.
Of the 120 who went into hospital: —
30 (22 primigravidæ) lived in a one-room home;
90 (47 primigravidæ) lived in a two or more roomed home.
Of the 34 who remained at home:—
2 (2 primigravidæ) lived in a one-roomed home;
12 (3 primigravidæ) lived in two rooms;
20 lived in three or more rooms.
Baths.
The baths provided at the John Street Centre for expectant and nursing
mothers were used 318 times during the year 1938.
Ante-natal Centres.
During the year, enquiries were made of mothers as to their attendance at an
Ante-natal Centre immediately previous to the birth of the child visited. Of 270
mothers, about whom information was obtained, 261 (96.4 per cent.) were found to
have attended Ante-natal Centres or received ante-natal care as under:—
Centre Attended:—
Holborn Centre, 10, John Street 21
Holborn Centre, Short's Gardens 22
Royal Free Hospital 12
Middlesex Hospital 10
Charing Cross Hospital 23
University College Hospital 34
Myddelton Square Institution 15
St. Bartholomew's Hospital 37
City of London Hospital 21
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital 2
St. Pancras Hospital 32
Other Centres 21
Ante-natal care from private doctors 9
Private midwives 2
261