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— 25 —
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
"The infant mortality rate for 1928 was 61.3, an unwelcome
increase on the low figure of 1927. The figures for England and
Wales, for London and for the 107 Great Towns were respectively
65,67 and 70. Of the 73 infant deaths, details of which will be
found in Table C. on page 32, 44 were of infants under the age of
four weeks, and of these neo-natal deaths, as they are called, 26
were attributable to premature birth. This has for some years
been the chief cause of death among infants in Hornsey and, so
far as is known at present, the only means of prevention is for
the expectant mother to receive adequate medical supervision
during her period of pregnancy. The lack of care in the case of
Illegitimate infants is shown by their appalling mortality—of 45
illegitimate infants born in Hornsey during 1928 no fewer than
8 died before reaching the age of one year.
Three mothers died as a result of their confinements—two
from sepsis and one from other causes. The maternal mortality
rate was thus 2.52 per 1,000 births. Two of these deaths
occurred in institutions, and none of the women attended the
ante-natal consultations.
The arrangement made by the Town Council for the provision
of the services of consultants in cases of puerperal fever
and puerperal pyrexia has proved helpful to medical practitioners
during the past year. Three notifications of puerperal fever and
22 of puerperal pyrexia were received and a consultant was
called in on four occasions. In no instance was it found necessary
to make special bacteriological examinations or to provide
a visiting nurse. Thirteen of the cases were treated in hospital
and five in nursing homes.
Midwifery.—Miss Andrews, the Municipal Midwife, attended
130 confinements during 1928—an increase of 8 on the figure for
the preceding year. She was present at 64 ante-natal clinics
during the year, and made 2,280 visits to the homes of the
mothers. Since the municipal midwife was first appointed in
1922 she has attended 690 confinements.
During the year a sum of £196 17s. was received from women
attended by Miss Andrews, notwithstanding that a reduction of
fee was made in 40 cases.