View report page

9
Infantile Mortality.
There was a considerable rise in the number of deaths under
one year of age. For several years this mortality rate has been
low—in 1935 it was 39 per 1,000 births, compared with 57 in
England and Wales. During 1936 there were 23 deaths under one
year of age, giving an Infantile Mortality rate of 56 per 1,000
births, as compared with 59 in England and Wales and 66 in
London.
It will be noticed that of the 23 deaths, no less than 10 were
of illegitimate children. The mortality rate of these children is
always high and 10 deaths referred to give a mortality rate of 270
per 1,000 illegitimate births.
Only eight of the 23 deaths are known definitely to have
occurred in the Borough. Eleven deaths occurred in outside
districts, while four of the deaths were of newly born children
whose bodies were found in the Borough— two in the River, one in
the Terrace Field and one in an Hotel Cloakroom. These children
may not have any connection with the Borough—except that they
were left here—but they help to increase the Infantile Mortality
Rate.
It will be seen from the table that out of 23 deaths, twelve
occurred in the first week of life.
The neonatal deaths, i.e., deaths occurring in the first four
weeks numbered 15 out of the total 23. This gives a neonatal
mortality of 37 per 1,000 births. Ten of these deaths were due to
Congenital Debility and Premature Birth.
Thirteen of these 23 deaths occurred in hospital while inquests
were held in five cases.