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14
Stillbirths
61 stillbirths were registered last year. This was a rate per thousand
population of 0-28 and a rate per thousand live and stillbirths of 21-4.
The rate per thousand births for the country as a whole was 22-4.
Of the 56 stillbirths about which particulars are known, all but five
were to mothers confined in hospital. Of these five, labour was premature
in two, the result of maternal toxaemia. Of the other fatalities one was
due to congenital abnormalities, one to a birth injury.
Of those where the mother was confined in an institution, many were
premature. In six, there was no apparent cause for the premature onset
of labour; in five there was premature separation of the placenta. In
two, labour was prematurely induced in the interests of the mother, and
in another an early caesarian section was carried out. In eleven, the
infant had died before the onset of labour, the cause in six being maternal
toxaemia of pregnancy, in another four some other disease of the mother,
and in one the infant had some developmental abnormality. Four were
one or both of twins. Three of the mothers gave a history of repeated
miscarriages.
A number of stillbirths were of infants who were born full time and
who were alive just before the mother went into labour. In 13 there
was some complication of labour, including three where the infant was
post-mature, and four instances of the cord being round the neck. In
three cases the mother suffered from toxaemia of pregnancy and in
another from diabetes.
Death of Infants 1 to 5 years of Age
A 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 later become responsible
for, or contribute to death. Weaker children, especially in the earlier
years, might succumb to infections which older children can throw off.
Four survived their first but did not reach their fifth birthdays. Of
these, two were in their second, one in his fourth and one in his fifth year.
One of the deaths was due to a respiratory complaint, two to congenital
abnormalities and one was due to a disease. No deaths were due to
accidents.
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.
There was in the last year only one death which resulted from
pregnancy or delivery, the maternal mortality rate being 0-3. This was a
single girl whose death was caused by " septicaemia due to septic abortion
using an instrument with intent to procure a miscarriage."
Deaths from Accidents
Apart from the deaths on the roads and deaths in the home, there
were only ten other deaths due to accidents. These were from a variety
of causes, including two from accidents on the railway and two murders.