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INFANT MORTALITY.
During 1955 there were 20 deaths among children under one
year of age, as compared with 9 last year, and an average of 20
in the last six years. None of the deaths was in respect of an
illegitimate child.
The resultant infant mortality rate was 23.7 per 1,000 registered
births, compared with an average of 20.6 for the previous
five years. The rate in 1954 was much the lowest recorded for
this District, hence an increase this year was anticipated.
The infant mortality rate for England and Wales was the
record of 24.9 in 1955, the lowest previously recorded being 25.5
in 1954.
The 17 babies dying in the first month correspond with a neonatal
mortality rate of 20.2 (i.e. deaths in the first month per 1,000
live births), whereas the average for the past five years was 17.0.
During the year 4 premature babies were notified as being
born at home and 43 in institutions. Of the latter 9 died, all
within the first twenty-four hours after birth.
This suggests that 19 per cent of the premature babies died,
compared with an average of about 22 per cent in the years since
1945.
The following table gives the causes of the 20 deaths which
occurred during 1955 together with the age at death.
In the present stage of our knowledge the deaths from pneumonia
and the accidental death which was primarily due to a
cold, are the most to be regretted as they might have been prevented
had adequate measures been taken to prevent the infection.
As is usual, however, the commonest cause is prematurity and,
in an attempt to diminish this risk, investigations are now proceeding.
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