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125
156 families was grouped as follows:—Skilled, 20=13 per cent. ;
unskilled, 88=56 per cent.; chronic unemployment, 30=20per
cent.; unknown, 18=11 per cent. The percentage of unskilled
workers and of those living below the poverty line is given in the
New Survey of London Life and Labour (1932) as 18.4 and 6.9
respectively, in the Borough of Leyton. The marked difference
in the proportion of the combined unskilled and unemployed groups
among families of seven and more children compared with the
proportion of these two groups in the Borough generally, viz.,
76 per cent. as against 25 per cent., demonstrates the existence of
differential fertility in Leyton. It'may be argued that percentages
taken from clinic attendances are loaded with the poorer families,
but on the other hand mothers from the lowest social level are less
likely to attend an ante-natal clinic.
The health of the mother was estimated in 148 cases as:Good,
25 per cent.; fair, 47 per cent.; poor, 27 per cent. The mental
capacity was considered to be under average in 31 per cent.
I have no figures showing the health of the main body of women
attending the clinics, but I have little doubt that the percentage
in poor health (27 per cent.) in this group is considerably in excess
of the average.
Maternity Beds.
In addition to the 481 expectant mothers who attended the
Council's clinics, 479 attended the Out-patient Department of
Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, for ante-natal supervision.
311 mothers had their confinements in the Margaret Lyle Wards
of the hospital.
The complications dealt with included—
Albuminuria 2
Ruptured perineum 48
Cæsarean section 5
Accidental haemorrhage 4
Post partum hæmorrhage 8
Placenta prævia 1
Eclampsia 1
Pre-eclamptic 17
Surgical induction 2
Medical induction 3
Prolonged labour 15
Forceps delivery 15