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Deaths from Suicide increased in number, there being 13 as compared
with 8, 3, 9 and 6 in the preceding four years. The Death Rate from
this cause was thus 23 per 100,000 of population, as compared with 15
last year and averages of 11 and 12 in the preceding two decades. The
comparable figure for England and Wales was 12, the proportion of
males to females being both nationally and locally about 2 male to
1 female death from this causel.
TUBERCULOSIS AND PNEUMONIA.
Deaths from tuberculosis and pneumonia are referred to in other
sections of the Report.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
There was 1 death associated with childbirth during 1938, the Maternal
Mortality Rate being 1.31 per thousand total births as compared with
2.97 for England and Wales. Both rates have fallen this year, the
corresponding figures for 1937 being 2.83 locally and 3.11 nationally.
The death which occurred locally was due to a pulmonary embolism
following parturition. Arrangements for the confinement had been
made privately.
While considerable attention has been focussed on the risks of
childbirth, and constant attention is being given locally and nationally
to the reduction of these risks, it should again be emphasized that undue
alarm on the part of expectant mothers is undesirable and increasingly
unjustifiable. The attendant risks are much less than they were and
are decreasing annually. By reasonable forethought and acceptance
of the medical services which are available to all, irrespective of social
position or financial resources, childbirth should resume its place as
the natural phase in life which it fundamentally is.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The number of deaths occurring in children under one year of age
was 38, as compared with 24 last year, and 20, 19 and 14 in the preceding
three years. Five of the deaths were in illegitimate children.
The Infantile Mortality Rate was thus 51 per thousand registered
births, which is the highest experienced in this District. Last year it
was 35, while in the three preceding years it was 33, 32 and 26. As
previously pointed out, this Rate is liable to marked fluctuations owing
to the small numbers concerned. Even five-yearly grouping does not
abolish this, as the average figures for the four quinquennial periods
1915-34 demonstrate, viz., 44, 28, 38 and 32. The fact that the Rate
was so high in 1938 necessitates further consideration to ascertain whether
other factors require to be noted.
The Infantile Mortality Rate for England and Wales in 1938 was
the lowest experienced to date, viz., 53, compared with 58, 59, 57 and
59 for the four preceding years. The average Rates for 1915-24 and
1924—35 were approximately 83 and 67.
The cause of death in the 38 infants under one year of age who died
in 1938 is shown in the following Table:—
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