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56
Of the total 13 infantile deaths assigned by the Registrar-General
to the Borough of Barnes for the year 11 were deaths of infants who
died outside the borough, but whose deaths are assignable to this
area. The infantile deaths which occurred in the Borough during
the year numbered 2 only.
The thirteen deaths assigned to Barnes corresponds to a rate of
infantile mortality for the Borough of 35.6 per 1,000 registered births.
The infantile mortality rate for London was 60, and that for England
and Wales was 58 per 1,000 registered births.
The infantile mortality rate of 35.6 per 1,000 registered births
for the year 1937 is the lowest ever recorded for this area.
Analysing the age distribution it is found that 12 of the total
thirteen deaths occurred before the infants attained the age of 3 months,
and 8 of these died before the age of 2 weeks.
It is equally of interest to note the causes of death in the case of
these infants. Amongst the 12 infants who died before the age of
three months 4 were newly-born babies who had been found dead,
3 died from congenital malformations, and in the case of the remaining
5 prematurity was the cause of death. The saving of life which has
been effected in the later months, and the reduction in the number
of deaths from those causes which are designated preventable, is
evident.
Maternal Mortality.
It is extremely satisfactory to record that there was no death from
maternal causes during 1937. This makes the third year in succession
that no life has been lost as a result of childbirth.
MIDWIFERY AND MATERNITY SERVICES.
An ante-natal clinic, held at the Council's Maternity and Child
Welfare Centre, Essex House, is available for expectant mothers and
for post-natal cases. The work of the clinic is referred to on page 58.
The number of confinements attended by midwives practising
in the area during 1937 were as under :—
(i) as Midwives155.
(ii) as Maternity Nurses 81 Total 236
The number of cases in which medical aid was summoned by a
Midwife under Sec. 14 (1) of the Midwives Act 1918 was 15.
The services of a Consulting Obstetrician are available in cases of
difficult or complicated labour, and in cases of puerperal fever or
puerperal pyrexia.