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number of them had little or no ante-natal care, other than blood tests, before
admission to a mother and baby home ;
(b) the difficulties experienced in providing sufficient help for the increasing
number of Jamaican girls with illegitimate children. Many were in debt for their
fares from Jamaica or contributed towards the keep of children which they had left
in that country and in consequence were unable to pay foster-parents to care for
the children they had in this country. They were reluctant to take court proceedings
for affiliation orders because of their fear that such action jeopardised their chance
of later marriage. Few of the girls would agree to repatriation as most of them
considered that their children had a much better chance of education and employment
in this country.
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