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33
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
Births.—By the Public Health Act, 1936, all live births and stillbirths
of seven months and over must be notified to the Medical Officer of Health
within 36 hours. The number of live births notified under this Act during
1942 was 1,680 (898 males and 782 females). Of these, 33 (18 males and
15 females) took place in Ilford, the ordinary place of residence of the parents
being outside the district.
In addition, 755 notifications of birth (377 males and 378 females) which
took place outside the district, although the ordinary residence of the parents
is in Ilford, were transferred to this district.
During the year, 18 cases in which there was default in complying
with the requirements of the Act relating to the Notification of Births were
referred to the Town Clerk.
The percentage of live births occurring in Ilford, notified by the various
responsible persons, was as follows:—
By Medical Practitioners 8.75
By Certified Midwives 88.33
By Parents and Others 2.92
In addition, 53 stillbirths (32 males and 21 females) were notified.
The notifications of 19 stillbirths (11 males and 8 females) which took place
outside the district, although the ordinary residence of the parents is in Ilford,
were transferred to this district.
Infant Mortality.—The number of infants dying within the first year
of life was 74, the total number born being 2,415. The latter figure is
supplied by the Registrar-General for calculating infant and maternal
mortality rates. The infant mortality, or rate of deaths per 1,000 live
births, was, therefore, 30.6.
Neonatal Mortality.—The death-rate of infants under four weeks of
age is known as the Neonatal Mortality. There were 49 deaths of infants
under four weeks of age during 1942 and the rate for the year was 20.3 per
1,000 live births. The deaths of infants under one month increased from
36 during 1941 to 49 during 1942.
The following table gives the deaths of infants under one year of age,
classified according to age.