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37
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
1944 was 1,950 (976 males and 974 females). Of these, 116 (62 males and
54 females) took place in Ilford, the ordinary place of residence of the parents
being outside the district.
In addition, 858 notifications of birth (441 males and 417 females) which
took place outside the district, although the ordinary residence of l.he 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 5.95
By Certified Midwives 91.59
By Parents and Others 2.46
In addition. 41 stillbirths (26 males and 15 females) were notified.
The notifications of 16 stillbirths (9 males and 7 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 102, the total number born being 2,771. 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, 36.8.
Neonatal Mortality.—The death-rate of infants under four weeks of
age is known as the Neonatal Mortality. There were 64 deaths of infants
under four weeks of age during 1944 and the rate for the year was 23.1 per
1,000 live births. The deaths of infants under one month increased from
54 during 1943 to 64 during 1944.