London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Leyton 1945

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]

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41
of the mothers of these babies is on the whole good as the more
serious maternal conditions give greater degrees of prematurity and
lower birth weights.
It is not possible to give such complete information about the
39 premature births which took place in hospitals outside the
district, but it is known that there were 10 deaths in the first
twenty-four hours, 3 of whom were in cases of toxaemia of pregnancy
and a fourth was of a twin pregnancy. An eleventh death took
place after a week, the baby being severely jaundiced ; and there
was a twelfth death at six weeks from broncho-pneumonia.
The total number of deaths at home and in hospital from these
60 premature live births was 13; and, as 11 of these occurred in
the first twenty-four hours (10 in hospital), it is evident that the
reduction of such deaths will depend mainly on increasing knowledge
of the cause of the premature births. The only death which
could possibly have been avoided by .better 'child welfare,' as
opposed to 'maternal welfare,' was the death from broncho pneumonia
at six weeks.
This total of deaths from prematurity includes all deaths
where it was known that the baby was premature according to the
accepted definition of prematurity, i.e. an infant weighing 5½ lbs.
or less at birth. In the Registrar General's table of infant deaths
a proportion of these deaths of premature infants are classified
under atelectasis.
Public Health Act, 1936. Child Life Protection.
On 1st January, 9 foster mothers and 9 children—and at
the end of the year 10 foster mothers and 11 children—were subject
to inspection.
The Council's Child Protection Visitors made 45 visits of
inspection during the year.

Summary, Year 1945.

Number of nurae children on Register, 1st January9
Number of nurse children notified by foster mothers during the year11
Nurse children removed :— To parents or relatives4
Adopted1
To institutions1
Attained 9 years of age2
Died1
Number of nurse children on Register on 31st December11