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A review of the work of the Infant Welfare Centres was made
during the year for the purpose of assessing the degree of success achieved
in furthering the objects of the Centres, i.e., firstly medical supervision
of the children from birth to school age, and secondly, the education
of the parents.
The numerical results are as follows:—
Approximately two-thirds of the children under school age in the
Urban District attend one of the Centres at least once before reaching
the age of 5 years, but upon analysis of several hundred cases, it is found
that of the two-thirds who do attend
12% do not attend when 0-1 years old.
28% „ „ „ „ 1-2 „ „
41% „ „ „ „ 2-3 „ „
46% ,, ,, ,, ,, 3-4 „ „
53% „ „ „ „ 4-5 „ „
Of those who continue to attend, on the average
those 0-1 years old attend 19 times per annum and see the Doctor 4.6 times.
„ 1-2 „ „ „ 13.5 2.4 „
„ 2.3 „ ,, „ 10 ,, ,, „ „ „ „ 2.0 „
„ 3-4 „ „ „ 9.6 „ „ „ „ „ „ 2.0 „
„ 4-5 „ „ „ 9.1 „ „ „ „ „ 1.7 „
It will be noted that whereas nearly two-thirds of the children
attend as babies, after the age of three years only about one-third of
the group are still attending. In other words, about half the attenders
drop off after the age of 3 years, or are absent for a whole year at a time,
and the Doctor is often not seen even when they are attending.
In view of this tendency, which is not peculiar to this District, it
is possible that in the next financial year new methods will be used to
encourage the attendance of toddlers, or, at least, to assess the importance
of their regular attendance.
With regard to the educational side of the Infant Welfare work,
attempts have been made to render this more effective, especially as
applied to group education. The less expensive forms of propaganda
such as posters and literature will continue to be used. A previous
impression that Talks to Mothers are comparatively valueless, unless
the children can be accommodated in another room, has rather been
confirmed than otherwise. The use of the Cinematograph has been
experimented with in connection with the Health Campaign reported
upon elsewhere. The results were definitely promising, especially in
certain Centres. If the initial expense of a projector ever becomes
justified by reason of its use in other sections of the Council's activities,
the institution of regular film displays at the Centres would probably
be well worth while, if only to encourage a wider view of the purpose
of the Centres.
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