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578
It will be noted that daring 1925 the deaths during the first
month of life amounted to 46 per cent, of the total infant mortality
during the first year of life, in Stoke Newington. Such
deaths are mainly (75 per cent.) due to Prematurity, Debility and
Congenital Defects.
The maternal mortality rate for the country as a whole is
equivalent to about four maternal deaths to every thousand births,
and this figure has been fairly constant for more than twenty years,
the slight reduction in deaths from Puerperal Fever having been
rather more than compensated for by the many deaths from other
causes in connection with childbirth. It must be borne in mind that
these deaths indicate an immense burden of suffering and ill-health
among women who survive, and they are necessarily associated with
a large number of infant deaths before, during, or shortly after birth,
many of which could be prevented.
On the other hand, during the past 20 years the infant mortality
rate has fallen some 50 per cent., but this fall has occurred almost
entirely subsequent to the first few weeks of life, the still-birth rate
and the death rate during the first month remaining much as they
were 20 years ago.
The above two facts are, of course, intimately related from the
standpoint of their causes and prevention ; and it is the aim
of those responsible for maternity and child welfare services to
devise fuller measures for preventing this sacrifice of life and health.
More ante-natal care and supervision, embracing the provision of
more Maternity Beds, a highly efficient midwifery service, and
special educational measures, can alone provide the remedy.
On several occasions during the past few years I have directed
attention to the desirability or providing some dental treatment in
connection with our scheme of Maternity and Child Welfare. I
have raised the subject in Committee and to individual members of
the Committee, and I have referred to the need for it in Annual
Reports.
The scope of such work may vary from a Special Dental Clinic
provided by the Local Authority and conducted by a salaried