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12
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
In 1939 the number of deaths due to conditions connected with or consequent
upon child-birth was 1, the maternal mortality rate being 1.22 per 1,000 births.
The death occurred in a nursing home, the age of the mother being 26 years. Twins
survived. As is usual in these cases a careful investigation into the circumstances
of the death was made and a report submitted to the Ministry of Health. In 1938
there were 2 deaths, the death rate being 2.41 per 1,000 births.
DEATHS IN RELATION TO DISEASE.
A list of the causes of deaths, with the ages at which they occurred, will be
found in Table 12 on page 15. This Table also shows the distribution of deaths
according to causes in the various registration sub-districts.
The following notes with regard to certain of the causes which contributed
most largely to the death rate, may be of interest.
Diarrhœal Diseases.—The total number of deaths registered as due to
diarrhoea and enteritis (inflammation of the bowels), was 10, giving a rate of 0.12
per 1,000 of the population.
As a general rule, the majority of deaths from this cause occur amongst infants,
and in 1939 this was the case also, all being children under one year of age.
In 1938, the number of deaths from diarrhceal diseases was 12. Of these, 8 were
babies.
Infectious (Communicable) Diseases.—Excluding influenza, which caused
14 deaths, and including diarrhoea, etc. (10 deaths) the total number registered
as due to infectious diseases was 13. Of these deaths, 1 was caused by whooping
cough and 2 by cerebro-spinal fever. In 1938, 18 deaths were caused by infectious
diseases, excluding influenza which caused 10 deaths.
Phthisis and other Tuberculous Diseases.—The total deaths due to the
diseases dealt with under this heading, viz., phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis or
consumption of the lungs), tuberculous meningitis, general tuberculosis, tabes
mesenterica, and all conditions due to the germ of consumption, numbered 62, 44
being recorded in 1938.
The great bulk of the 62 deaths, viz., 57, giving a death-rate of 0.69 per 1,000
of the population, was due to phthisis. The number in 1938 was 34, with a death-rate
of 0.38.
The age periods at which the deaths in 1939 occurred were: 1—5, nil; 5—15, 1
(2%); 15—25, 12 (20%); 25-45, 20 (35%); 45—65, 14 (25%); 65 and over,
10 (18%).
The subject of phthisis is further discussed in connection with the notification
and prevention of tuberculosis.
Respiratory Diseases.—The number of deaths due to bronchitis, pneumonia,
and other diseases of the organs of respiration was 94. This is lower by 8 than the
figure (102) for 1938.
The death-rate was 1.14 per thousand. In 1938 the rate was 1.12.
The number of deaths certified to be due to bronchitis was 27. Of this number
18 were amongst persons aged 65 and upwards, and 8 amongst those of the group
45-65.
The deaths traceable to pneumonia numbered 60 and, as in the case of bronchitis,
the later age-groups contributed the greatest numbers. Five were infants of under
one year of age.
Cancer or Malignant Disease.—The number of deaths due to cancer was
139 and the death-rate 1.69 per 1,000 of the population. The figures for 1938 were
180 and 1.98 per 1,000 respectively.
Information with regard to the age at which death occurred and the situation
of the disease is given in Tables 8 and 9.