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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 7 days of life.
The " 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.