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66
Amongst the women attending the clinic were 46 who attended
for post-natal examination, of whom about one-half were referred
to hospital or to their own doctors for treatment. In addition,
37 on attending were found not to be pregnant.
37 per cent, of the cases attended of their own accord, 35 per
cent, were referred by the midwives, 15 per cent, on the recommendation
of a neighbour and 10 per cent, on the advice of a Health
Visitor. 3 per cent, of the cases were referred by local practitioners.
The practice of the midwives varies largely, some referring up to
one-third of their cases, others, on the other hand, referring only
one or two in the course of the year.
176 patients paid only one visit, 101 two visits, 96, 84 and 47
paid three, four and five visits respectively, and 82 paid six or over.
These figures are exclusive of those patients who had a miscarriage
or who removed from the district before the confinement.
12 patients attended before they were two months pregnant,
59 attended for the first time in the third month of pregnancy;
the numbers attending for the first time in the next months were
67, 90, 107, 113, 89 and 48.
The number who attended once only is far too great, particularly
when it is realised that this single attendance was paid, in many
cases, early in pregnancy. Out of these single attendances, 2 came
before the third month of pregnancy. The number who attended
in the third month was 13, and in the following months 26, 32, 38,
31 and 22. These single attendances, particularly when paid in
the early months, represent much waste of work. 82 patients
paid 6 visits or over. Many of these, of course, paid their first
visit in the early stages of pregnancy and continued regular
attendances. Too frequent attendances by normal patients tends
to cumber the work of the clinic and to prevent proper attention
being given to the routine cases and also renders too easy the losing
sight of cases which should be followed up. In an attempt to
obviate these disadvantages, an appointment register is now kept
and the patient given a date on which to attend. Should she fail
to put in an appearance, she is visited and unless she has made other
arrangements is encouraged to attend the clinic.
To the women who attended the Ante-natal Clinics a miscarriage
occurred or the infant was stillborn in 16 instances. In
addition, a difficult confinement occurred in 26 cases, in 22 of Which
forceps were applied. The other confinements occurring at home
were apparently uncomplicated.