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INFANT MORTALITY.
Infant deaths are also almost universally deplored, hence we
welcome the spectacular decrease in the Infant Mortality Rate
(i.e. the number of deaths under 1 year which have occurred in
every 1,000 live births) which has occurred nationally during this
century.
In 1900 the national Infant Mortality Rate was 154 but by
1927 is was 70 and in 1939 down to 50. Although it rose slightly
during the war(60 in 1941) it has since fallen fairly steadily and in
1956 was only 23.8.
As this Urban District was only constituted in 1915 and
from the first concentrated on reducing the risks to young children,
the effect on the local rate has been less dramatic. Even so, it is
pleasing to note that, after remaining on the average about 36
from 1920 to 1944, during the last 10 years it has averaged 23.
In 1953 it was 29, but in 1954 it was only 11; in 1955 this was
again compensated for by 24 but in 1956 it was only 10. Incidentally
this is a good illustration of the value of taking an average
over a number of years if the numbers affected in any given year
are small. The violent swings over the last 4 years even out to a
much more reliable average of 18.5 and the still safer average of 23
in the last 10 years.
The causes of death in the 9 babies who died locally in 1956
were prematurity and failure to start breathing(5), asphyxia(3)
and pneumonia(1). Of the 3 cases of suffocation, one was a case
of asphyxia of the newly born, one inhaled its stomach contents
and the other was suffocated by its pillow.
In general the greatest decrease in these deaths has occurred
in children after the first month and the commonest causes in
recent years have been prematurity, congenital defects and infections.
While the actual numbers of those whose deaths have
resulted from accidents and infections has greatly declined,
constant watchfulness is obviously still very necessary. Even
the common cold can be a most serious infection in the very
young.
During 1956 in this Division there were 6 deaths among
babies in the first month of their lives, this corresponding with a
Neo-natal Mortality Rate (i.e. deaths in the first month, per
1,000 live births) of 7, which is the lowest we have known. From
1935 to 1944 the average was 27 and in 1945 - 54 it fell to 17.
As prematurity is the most important factor in this Rate,
research has recently been concentrated upon its prevention, but
the cause appears to be by no means a simple one. Every effort
is, however, made to preserve the lives of these premature infants.
During 1956, there were 39 "premature" babies(now interpreted
as babies who weighed 5 lbs. 8 ozs. or less at birth) of which 11
were notified as being born at home and 28 in institutions. One
of the former only lived 6 hours and of the lattter 3 infants died
after living only 2 hours, 2 days and a week. This suggests that
10% of the premature babies died, compared with an average of
22% since 1945.
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