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87
for reports on the suitability of the homes, and of the prospective adopters
both before placing the child and during the probationary period.
ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.
The death rate of illegitimate children under one year of age was at
one time about double the general infant mortality rate. The excess
applied throughout each period of the first year and for most of the fatal
diseases. The causes of the increase were considered to be maternal illhealth
and worry, leading to lack of breast feeding, and lack of maternal
nurture and home influence. More recently, and co-inciding with the
time that a more tolerant view was taken of such lapses, the mortality
rate has fallen and frequently now differs little from the general rate.
The mother of the illegitimate child needs help before the confinement,
and for a period after, during which she can feel sufficiently secure
while adapting herself to her very altered circumstances. Homes maintained
by certain voluntary agencies met this latter need to a certain
extent, though left untouched the case of the girl pregnant for the second
time.
During the war there was a rise in the percentage of births which
were illegitimate. (It will be realised that a fall in the ordinary birth
rate would be reflected in a rise of the percentage of illegitimate births,
even though these latter had not increased in numbers.) In this district
the percentage for the years 1934-39 was an average of 3.0. The figures
from 1940 have been 3.4, 4.6, 4.1, 4.6, and 5.8 in 1945. It seems that
quite a high percentage of women are pregnant at the time of their
marriage, and this general increase in the percentage rate was probably,
to a substantial extent, due to the added difficulties in their arranging a
marriage with which the parties were confronted as a result of war
conditions.
In October, 1943, the Ministry of Health in circular 2866, urged
welfare authorities to consider the problem, suggesting they should
recognise the work of existing moral welfare associations, and appoint
a trained worker experienced in these special problems. It was agreed
that the Council participate in a joint scheme with the County Council,
by which suitable local cases might be admitted to a hostel in Hendon
that would receive mothers and babies. In addition, the Council would
avail itself of the services of the special services aknoner appointed by the
County Council. Later the County Council were able to arrange at
another home, for the admission of the expectant mother. These arrangements
have run smoothly, and during the year five expectant mothers
were admitted to the one hostel, and three mothers with their children to
the other.
SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN.
War Nurseries.
An enquiry before the war did not show any real demand for day
nurseries in this area. Those mothers who went out to work were
apparently able to arrange for their children to be looked after in households.