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Sometimes the death occurs just before and not after delivery ; this is
then classed as a stillbirth, not as an infant death. But the loss is the same.
So, too, is it if it occurs even earlier ; and these losses of potential members
of the population whether occurring in the later months of pregnancy
being then known as stillbirths or occurring in the earlier months, being
called abortions, are just as important as those occurring in the infants
who were born alive. Little is known of the factors which bring about
early termination of pregnancy, so that little can be done to prevent this.
Some studies suggest that one factor of importance is an adequate diet of
the mother. Some stillbirths are, of course, the result of errors in
development of the growing foetus which results in its being not viable.
Then there are those deaths that occur during a labour which takes place
at full term. Here the important factor is the standard of obstetrical
practice amongst those attending the mother.
In this district the stillbirth rates have been consistently low. 71
stillbirths were registered in this last year, yielding a rate per thousand
population of 0.32, a rate higher than previous ones, but still below that
of 0.36 for the country as a whole.
Deaths of Infants 1 to 5 Years of Age.
The child who survives the first year of life enters a period when the
probability of dying is very small. Some survive their first birthday in
spite of suffering from congenital abnormalities which then become
responsible for or contribute to death. Weaker children, especially in
the earlier years, might succumb to infections which older children can
throw off. Accidents, too, early start to exert their toll.
Ten children survived their first but did not reach their fifth birthday.
Of these, five died in their second year. Two suffered from
congenital abnormalities ; one from a developmental condition ; one
from an accident, and one from pneumonia. Of the two children of
3 years of age who died, one suffered from congenital defects ; the death
of the other was the result of an accident. Of the three who died having
reached their fourth birthdays, two died from infections and one from the
result of congenital abnormalities.
Maternal Mortality.
The total maternal mortality rate includes all deaths of women
primarily due to or associated with pregnancy or childbirth expressed as
a rate per thousand live- and stillbirths registered in the year.
The rate up to comparatively recently used to be about 4 per thousand
; for some years now the figure has been nearer one.
There were in this last year three deaths the result of pregnancy
or delivery. The maternal mortality rate therefore was 1.0.
One death was the result of a self-induced abortion ; another the
result of an abortion brought about by someone else. The remaining
fatality was that of a woman who had had a normal delivery at home,
retention of the placenta resulting in hæmorrhage and shock. She was
removed to hospital but died within the hour.