View report page

INFANT MORTALITY.
During 1954 there were only 9 deaths among children under
one year of age, as compared with 22 last year, and an average
of 20 in the last six years. None of the deaths was in respect of
an illegitimate child.
While any death is regrettable, and at least 2 of these 9 might
have been prevented, this is far and away the lowest number of
infant deaths which has occurred in this District in any one year.
The resultant infant mortality rate was only 10.8 per 1,000
registered births, compared with 29.3, 24.0, 21.7 and 17.2 in the
previous four years, the rate in 1950 being the lowest previously
recorded for this District.
The infant mortality rate for England and Wales was the
record of 25.5 in 1954, the lowest previously recorded being 26.8
in 1953.
The 7 babies dying in the first month correspond with a neonatal
mortality rate of 8.4 (i.e. deaths in the first month per 1,000
live births), whereas the average for the past nine years was
over 18.
During the year 8 premature babies were notified as being
born at home and 41 in institutions. Of the latter 5 died, 2 in the
first day, and one on each of the 2nd, 5th and 7th days after birth.
This suggests that only 10 per cent of the premature babies
died, compared with an average of 22 per cent in the years since
1945.
The following table gives the causes of the 9 deaths which
occurred during 1954 together with the age at death.
13