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36
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS.
The total number of live births registered during the year was
3,828, 1,935 male and 1,893 female. Of these 133 were illegitimate,
being a percentage of total births of 3.4. 2,742 births occurred in the
district (2,708 live and 34 stillbirths). Of this number 625 (617 live
and 8 stillbirths) were to residents of other districts. Of the local confinements
2,678 were notified by midwives and 64 by doctors or parents.
1,613 (1,567 live and 46 stillbirths) notifications were transferred
from other districts, being mostly of births occurring to Harrow mothers
in Middlesex County Council or in London hospitals.
STILLBIRTHS.
Ninety one (46 male and 45 female) stillbirths were registered, being a
rate per 1,000 population of 0.42 compared with the figure of 0.50 for
the country as a whole.
INFANT MORTALITY.
During the year 92 infants (52 male and 40 female) died under one
year of age, this being an infant mortality rate of 24.3, compared with
41.0 of the country as a whole. The legitimate rate was 23.6 and the
illegitimate rate 37.6.
Fifty-six failed to survive one month. The neo-natal mortality
rate was therefore 14.6, constituting 61 per cent. of the total infant
mortality rate. Of these 56, 24 failed to survive the first 24 hours.
The cause of death of 11 was prematurity, of one immaturity ; 5 suffered
from congenital developmental abnormalities and 3 from want of attention
at birth ; another 3 from atelecasis and 1 from birth injury. Deaths
of infants who survived 24 hours but failed to live 7 days numbered 15,
the fatalities being the result of prematurity or immaturity in 7,
developmental abnormalities 4, and in birth injuries 2. Of the 17 who
survived one week but succumbed before the end of one month, in 8 the
cause was prematurity or immaturity, in 3 respiratory diseases, and 2
each birth injury or congenital or developmental abnormalities.
Infections accounted for a much higher proportion of the deaths of
those over one month, by which time prematurity, birth injury and
congenital abnormality are less important factors in producing fatalities.
Of the 11 deaths of those of 1 to 3 months of age at the time of death, 3
were due to respiratory and 2 to gastro-intestinal infections, and 3 to
congenital defects. Twenty-five infants survived 3 months but died
before they attained the age of 12 months. Twelve died from respiratory
and 2 from gastro-intestinal complaints ; developmental abnormalities
resulted in 2 deaths and accidents in another 2.
MORTALITY AMONGST CHILDREN OF 1-5 YEARS OF AGE.
Infections account for most of the deaths of the children in this
period of life of lowest fatality though accidents are a growing factor.
Five of the 9 deaths amongst those who had reached the age of one but
not two years of age were due to these causes. Two children of two years
of age died; there were 3 deaths in those of three years of age and another
3 amongst those of four years.