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The number of deaths recorded as due to Prematurity is
unusually large, but it must be remembered that every child who
shows signs of life after delivery is registered as a live birth irrespective
of the duration of pregnancy. Children who are born ten weeks
or more before full term have practically no chance of survival, and
among the fourteen cases included in the Table eight were born at
or before the thirtieth week of pregnancy.
Prematurity always occupies a prominent place in the causes
of infant deaths : it is the certified cause of death in over a quarter
of the total numbers of infant deaths in Beckenham : the actual
percentages since 1928 are: 1928-1932, 28.57%; 1933-1937,
26.56% ; 1938-1942, 26.4%.
Prematurity can be caused by many different conditions, some
of which are well-established and others only suspected : some of
these conditions are preventable, others, in the present state of our
knowledge, are not. It is usually very difficult to determine precisely
which condition has been responsible in any particular case.
NURSING HOMES REGISTRATION ACT, 1927.
At the end of the year there were 2 homes on the register.
The Medical Officer of Health and Assistant M.O.H. paid 16 visits
of inspection to the premises and found the records and equipment
satisfactory. Local paper's were scrutinised for advertisements of
unregistered homes.
BOARDED OUT CHILDREN.
At the beginning of the year there were 13 registered Foster
Mothers having charge of 18 children. At the end of 1944 there
were 16 children under the care of 11 Foster Mothers.
The Health Visitors made inspections of the premises on the
register, and most of the children were seen at the Welfare Centres.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
This service deals with the ante-natal care of expectant mothers
and the supervision of nursing mothers and children up to the age
of five years.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS.
The births registered were slightly higher than in 1943.
ANTE-NATAL WORK.
In 219 of the births in and belonging to the area, the services
of a private medical practitioner were engaged, and the remainder
were attended by midwives. It is for these latter cases that examination
and supervision at the Ante-Natal Clinic is intended.
All assessments for the Maternity Hospital are made through
the Office, and a visiting card is made out so that advice can be
given by the Health Visitors; this work necessitated 793 visits
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