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66
"The causes of death were as follows:—
Prematurity 14 Birth Injury 2
Congenital Malforma- Haemolytic Disease 2
Congenital Malforma Whooping Cough 1
tion 10 Meningitis 1
Asphyxia, Atelectasis 6 Others 4
Enteritis 2
"In the light of present knowledge it is unlikely that a decline
in the rate of inevitable deaths will occur. Of the unavoidable
deaths, most were due to Prematurity, Asphyxia and Atelectasis.
There is an increasing awareness of the problem of prematurity
and it is hoped that with increasing facilities for the care of the
premature infant we shall see a decline in their mortality figures.
This group accounts for the greatest number of neo-natal deaths.
"Respiratory disease is the most frequent cause of deaths
classified as inevitable.
"Infectious diseases, except in two cases, did not play an
important part in causation in this series, but Whooping Cough
and Measles, on account of their respiratory complications, may
be expected to be a far more important factor in an epidemic
year. Clearly the causation under 'Inevitable' is infection, and
they account for most of the deaths later in the baby's first year
of life. Increased vigilance and care over environmental conditions
and better education of the mother in the care and management
of the infant may well produce satisfactory results."
CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN
The action taken under Circular 2866/1944 is fully set out
in the Report for that year.
The Walthamstow Moral Welfare Association provides a
hostel of 19 beds staffed by three whole-time workers.
The chief difficulties in 1949 were again to secure accommodation
for confinements and suitable foster mothers.
Every possible step has, as in previous years, been taken to
ensure that the care of illegitimate children does not fall below
that given to children who are legitimate. The figures quoted
below give a comparison between illegitimate and legitimate rates.