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50
INFANT MORTALITY.
There were 44 deaths of infants under one year of age
in 1961 making an infant death rate of 15 per thousand
live births (16 in 1960). Of the 44 deaths, 38 occurred
within the first month of life and of these, 32 were
within the first week and 23 within the first day of
birth. The first 24 hours of life appears therefore to be
the most dangerous, but for those who survive the first
4 weeks, the risks are nowadays small.
By far the most frequent cause of infant death is
still prematurity; 19 babies died of this in 1961. Pour
of these were stated to be associated with maternal
toxaemia of pregnancy and this may well have been the
precipitating factor in other cases. Further knowledge on
the prevention and cure of toxaemia may be needed before
the prematurity rate is appreciably reduced. Many cases
of premature birth still remained unexplained. Congenital
abnormalities formed the next most frequent cause of
death after prematurity. There were 7 deaths from this
cause in 1961 (13 in 1960). The number shows no increase
in Ealing over the years despite the reputed danger from
radiation.
Four babies died of atelectasis failure of the
lungs to expand at birth and 2 from asphyxia at birth.
Three deaths were due to Rhesus incompatibility.