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care of the hospital or private medical practitioner and before
the usual primary visit by the Health Visitor had been made;
2 died at home due to fatal illness, 4 in hospital and 2 deaths were
caused by an accident at home. Of the 8 babies who died over
one month — 6 had been seen by the Medical Officer at the
Child Welfare Clinic and had been visited by the Area Health
Visitors.
The standard of home care in all cases was satisfactory and
only in three cases were housing problems present.
Causes of Infant Deaths.
0—4 weeks:—
Prematurity and General Debility 21
Congenital malformations and birth injuries 8
Other causes 5
Total 34
4 weeks—12 months:—
Pneumonia and Whooping Cough 4
Congenital heart 1
Accidents 2
Gastro-enteritis 1
Total 8
An infant mortality rate of 21 for 1948 is certainly a figure
to be quoted with pride by the health visiting staff, whose work
brings them daily into such close contact with parents at times
of joy and of heartbreak. The work of health education can be
tedious and exacting and the workers are much encouraged by
evidence that their efforts are not in vain. Much remains to be
done and all efforts must be continued to bring about still greater
reductions in the death rate among children of all ages, and to
raise the standard of understanding as well as of physical care
given to every child in every home.
6. I wish to record our indebtedness to the Voluntary
Helpers at the Clinics who have given such excellent services in
innumerable and always so unobtrusive ways. They have continued
to arrange for the distribution of the Government's vitamin
accessory products, while their co-operation with all the personnel
of the Department has been the fullest and of the greatest value
and assistance.
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