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The rate amongst legitimate children was 43.6, while for illegitimate
children it was 172.
Neonatal Deaths : There were 58 (37 male and 21 female)
deaths of infants under one month of age, this being a neonatal
rate of 26.9, and constituting 57 per cent. of the total infant
mortality rate. Of these deaths, 27 (18 male and 9 female) occurred
within twenty-four hours of birth, of which seven (six male and
one female) were due to birth injuries, eight (five male and three
female) to developmental abnormalities (congenital heart, spina
bifida, etc.), and nine (five male and four female) to prematurity.
A further nineteen (14 male and 5 female) deaths occurred
within the first week. Of these, nine (seven male and two female)
were due to congenital abnormalities, six (three male and three
female) to prematurity, and one male to difficult labour.
Of the remaining twelve cases which proved fatal within the
month, three were due to congenital abnormalities, six to prematurity,
and two to infections.
There were fifteen deaths of infants aged between one and
three months, eleven male and four female. Prematurity accounted
for the deaths of two males, congenital pyloric stenosis another
two, malnutrition one, bronchitis or pneumonia three, and
accidents two. Gastro-enteritis caused the deaths of one male
and two females, the cause of death in the other female being
marasmus.
Of the sixteen (ten male and six female) deaths of infants
between three and six months of age, developmental causes by this
time were less prominent, the death of one male being due to
debility from birth and two females died from developmental
abnormalities, namely spina bifida and congenital heart. Gastroenteritis
in the warmer months of the year accounted for four
deaths, and respiratory infections another four.
The infections figured more prominently as the cause of death
amongst the thirteen (eight male and five female) who died between
the ages of six and twelve months, whooping cough being responsible
for three, and respiratory infections for another four. One died
from congenital syphilis and one from tuberculous meningitis,
another from gastro-enteritis and three from idiopathic disease.
Deaths of Older Children.
Nine children died in their second year. Of these pneumonia
accounted for four, measles for two, and tuberculous meningitis
one. More deaths occurred amongst those in their third year,
mostly due to infections including measles, diphtheria, and chest
affections. A smaller number of deaths of those of three years
of age was recorded, and a still smaller number of those aged
four. Altogether 24 died between the ages of one year and five
years, of which 20 were male and only four female, most of these
deaths being due to infections.