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INFANT AND EARLY NEO-NATAL MORTALITY
These rates over the years are completely comparable, since
they are in all cases rates per 1,000 births.
The graph shows that, out of 1,000 babies born now, 100 are
saved who would have died just over 60 years ago. The remarkable
feature of the graph is the contrast between the almost
dramatic fall in the total infant mortality rate, and the relatively
small reduction in loss of life during the first seven days of life.
This "hard core" of deaths is accounted for by congenital
defects, birth injury and prematurity. Intensive research is proceeding
into factors, e.g., drugs, virus infections, etc., which could
produce damage to the developing child, particularly during the
first three months of pregnancy. There is a clear case for strict
control of all drugs administered to women of child-bearing age
and for the giving of Gamma globulin to every expectant mother
exposed to a virus infection. In addition, a great effort must be
made to obtain hospital admission for every mother starting in
premature labour so that the child so greatly at risk shall have
special skill immediately at hand, and means available to provide
an atmosphere of the right temperature and humidity.