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45
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
1945 was 1,910 (1,002 males and 908 females). Of these, 114 (57 males and
57 females) took place in Ilford, the ordinary place of residence of the parents
being outside the district.
In addition, 659 notifications of birth (334 males and 325 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, 13 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 4.71
By Certified Midwives 94.08
By Parents and Others 1.21
In addition, 32 stillbirths (15 males and 17 females) were notified.
The notifications of 19 stillbirths (10 males and 9 females) which took
place outside the district, although the ordinary residence of the parents is in
Ilford, were transferred to this district.
Care of Premature Infants.—Of the 1,910 live births occurring in
Ilford during 1945, 104 weighed 5½lbs. or less at birth; 38 of these babies
were born at home and 66 in Hospital (including 12 in a Private Nursing
Home).
The number of those born at home:—
(i) who were nursed entirely at home =32
(ii) who died during the first 24 hours =3
(iii) who survived at the end of one month =26
The number of those born in Hospital:—
(i) who died during the first 24 hours =5
(ii) who survived at the end of one month =58
Owing to wartime conditions it has not been possible to implement any
of the following recommendations made by the Ministry of Health in their
Circular No. 20/44, dated 22nd March, 1944:—
(а) Provision of suitable equipment in the home.
(б) Supply of expressed breast milk where this is necessary.
*(c) Services of a Paediatrician.
(d) Giving of particular attention to babies by Midwives or Health
Visitors, preferably with special training and experience with
premature infants.
(e) Services of Home Help specifically for this type of case.
(/) Admission of selected cases to Institutions where special care
is appropriate to such cases.
(g) Special form of transport for the conveyance of infants to
Hospital.
* The Council will shortly appoint a part-time Paediatrician.
Infant Mortality.—The number of infants dying within the first year
of life was 81, the total number born being 2,479. 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, 32.7.
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 1945 and the rate for the year was 19.8 per
1,000 live births. The deaths of infants under one month decreased from
64 during 1944 to 49 during 1945.
The following table gives the deaths of infants under one year of age,
classified according to age.