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86
V.—MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The principal rates which are used in estimating the value of maternity and
child welfare work in any area are the maternal mortality rate and the infantile
mortality rate. Conclusions which are based on a series of either of these rates for
a number of consecutive years are of considerable value, but it should be noted that
no valid opinions can be based on the rates for isolated years.
The infantile mortality rate for Shoreditch for 1936 was 75. The corresponding
rate for 1935 was 52, so that the 1936 figure is considerably in excess of that for 1935.
In the report for 1935 I pointed out that the low rate of 52 was possibly associated
with the fact that there were few deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis in infants, and
also with the fact that epidemic disease was not prevalent. The brief analysis of
the figures for 1936 which is given on page 30 of this report suggests that this was
probably the explanation. The excess for 1936 was made up largely by deaths from
measles, diarrhoea and respiratory conditions.
For a moderately small area like Shoreditch maternal mortality rates are apt
to show even more surprising features. This is due of course to the fact that even
one death adds considerably to the rate for the whole borough. For example the
maternal mortality rate for 1934 was 0.69 per 1,000 live births, which represents
one maternal death during the year. During 1935 there were four maternal deaths,
and the rate was then increased to 3.10. Considerable fluctuation in the rate for
Shoreditch is, therefore, to be expected. It is, however, satisfactory to note that
during 1936 no Shoreditch mother lost her life as a result of childbirth, and the
maternal mortality rate is therefore 0 per 1,000 live births.
STATISTICS.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The number of children under one year of age who died in 1936 was 95, of whom
55 were males and 40 females, as compared with 67 (males 35, females 32) for 1935.
The infant mortality rate was 75 as compared with 52 for the previous year, and
an average of 73 for the previous five years. The rate for England and Wales was
59, or 21 per cent., and for London 66, or 12 per cent, lower than the rate for
Shoreditch,