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22
Maternity
and Child
Welfare.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Section was much hindered early in
the year by the very severe measles epidemic totalling 2,682 cases. These
cases had to be visited by the Health Visitors and Voluntary Health Visitors,
and at times the urgency of visiting was such that routine revisiting of the
ordinary infant welfare children had to take second place. These biennial
epidemics always throw a great strain on the visiting resources of the staff,
and the consequent pneumonia cases and infantile diarrhoea cases arising out
of, or concurrent with, a measles epidemic entails much visiting which is
reflected in the figures for the year's work.
Two of the Borough Health Visitors staff, Miss Gibbs and Miss Clifford,
attended the annual revision course for health visitors at the winter school for
health visitors, held at Bedford College for Women, under the auspices of the
Women's Public Health Officers' Association, from 30th December, 1935, to
7th January, 1936. These classes are much appreciated by the health visitors
and serve to imbue them with a new interest in their work.
Ante.natal
Clinics.
The system of co.operation between the two Council ante.natal clinics
and the maternity department of the Mile End London County Council hospital
was continued during the year, with excellent results. Our health visitor
visits the Mile End Hospital ante.natal clinic weekly and acts as a liaison
officer between the ante. and post.natal clinics of the Borough Council and the
lying.in wards of the Mile End Hospital. As pointed out in last year's report,
this is invaluable for keeping in touch with the unmarried mother when she
leaves the hospital with her baby.
The total attendances at the Borough ante.natal Clinics have increased
from 363 to 585 and a number of mothers delivered in Mile End Hospital
from the Whitechapel district attend the Borough ante.natal Clinic at Hughes
Mansions. Vallance Road.
Infantile
Mortality.
Unfortunately, as anticipated in the annual report of the late Medical
Officer of Health last year, the deaths of infants under 1 year showed an
increase in 1936. The biennial measles epidemic and its concurrent bronchopneumonia
and diarrhoea epidemics have taken their toll. The total infantile
mortality was 307, compared with 191 last year. A mortality rate of 100.09
compared with 63.00. It is noticeable, however, that an increase in the infant
mortality figure occurred in more than half of the London Boroughs this
year (see page 33).
The mortality figures in infants under 1 for the three diseases mentioned
are as follows:
Measles: In 1936, 15 deaths occurred; in 1935 there were no deaths.
Pneumonia and broncho.pneumonia: 56 deaths in 1936; 34 in 1935.
Diarrhoea: 71 in 1936, and 31 in 1935.
The deaths from diarrhoea occurred, practically all, during the early
months of the year, from January to June, concurrently with the measles
epidemic, which reached its apex in April. Diarrhoea, in recent years, has lost its
summer incidence. Previously referred to as "summer diarrhoea of infants,"
it now takes its toll chiefly in the autumn and early spring. It was noticeable
that the summer months, June to September, appeared to be completely free
from the disease. This, no doubt, is largely due to the suppression of the
house fly and through cleaner streets and better facilities for the removal of
garbage inhibiting the breeding of the pest. The better protection of
milk and foodstuffs from contamination by the house fly is a similarly potent
factor in reducing the incidence of this disease in the summer months.
Maternal
Mortality.
It is gratifying to record that the maternal mortality figure for the year,
1.56, is the lowest recorded in the Borough for ten years.
There were only five deaths of mothers in 3,179 births.
Each maternal death occurring in the Borough is investigated and reports
are received from the doctors and nurses concerned. From the data received