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57
The twenty-six deaths assigned to Barnes corresponds to a rate of
infantile mortality for the Borough of 68.7 per 1,000 registered births.
The infantile mortality rate for London was 57, and that for England
and Wales was 53 per 1,000 registered births.
The infantile mortality rate of 68.7 per 1,000 registered births
for the year 1938 is in striking contrast to the rate of 35.6 for 1937,
which was the lowest ever recorded for the District. The exceptionally
large proportion of neo natal deaths is a conspicuous feature of this
unusually high mortality.
Analysing the age distribution it is found that no less than 17
of the total 26 deaths occurred before the infants had reached the age
of 3 weeks. It is further observed that 10 of the infants died within
24 hours of birth.
From a consideration of the causes of death as certified it is
difficult to assess precisely the various factors, or the extent to which
any) particular factors, contributed to this high mortality under 1 month.
The ages, and causes of death, of the 17 infantile deaths under
3 weeks are given for reference:—
Age at death. Certified cause of death.
Newly born Found dead (want of attention at birth).
10 minutes Malpresentation.
30 ,, Prematurity.
1 hour Congenital heart disease.
5 hours Prematurity (twin).
6 „ Prematurity.
8 „ Prematurity.
8 „ Injury at birth (difficult labour).
9 „ Prematurity (twin).
(10) 15 ,, Injury at birth (breech presentation).
1 day Collapse of lung.
2 days Injury at birth (twin).
3 ,, Congenital malformation (imperforate anus).
4 ,, Prematurity (twin).
1 week Prematurity (7 months).
11 days Prematurity.
(17) 2 weeks Intestinal indigestion.
Maternal Mortality.
It is extremely satisfactory to record that there was no death from
maternal causes during 1938. This makes the fourth year in succession
that no life has been lost as a result of childbirth. There has been
nojjdeath from puerperal fever since 1934 and no death from other
puerperal causes since 1933.