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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 it 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
1957 was only 23.0.
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 just
under 23. In 1953 it was 29, but in 1954 it dropped to 11; in 1955
it again rose to 24, falling in 1956 to only 10. The rate of 17 in
1957 was thus below the recent average. 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 5 years even out to the much more
reliable average of 18, while it is still safer to consider the local
average to be the 22.6 of the last 10 years.
The causes of death in the 16 babies who died locally in 1957
were prematurity and failure to start breathing (13), congenital
abnormalities (2), meningococcal meningitis (1). The origin of the
infection in the latter was not discovered.
Nationally 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 have greatly declined,
constant watchfulness is obviously still very necessary. Even the
common cold can be a most serious infection in the very young.
During 1957 in this District there were 13 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 13.5. From 1935 to 1944 the average was 27 and in
1945 to 1954 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 1957, there were 61 "premature" babies born (now interpreted
as babies who weighed 5 lbs. 8 oz. or less at birth) of which
14 were notified as being born at home and 47 in institutions.
Seven of the latter lived less than 24 hours and a further 3 died
between the 2nd and 7th day. This suggests that nearly 20% of
the premature babies died, compared with an average of 22%
since 1945.
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