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Maternity Outfits, each with an 8 ounce bottle of dettol, are supplied at the
appropriate time, through the Domiciliary Midwives to all expectant mothers who are to be
confined at home.
Child Welfare.
The needs of the area have been met by a total of 20 infant welfare sessions per week
which were held at the Municipal Centres and at the South West Ham Child Welfare Centre at
Avenons Road. In accordance with the agreement with neighbouring local authorities whereby
mothers and children are able to attend the clinic most conveniently situated to their homes,
27 children and 2 expectant mothers resident in neighbouring areas attended West Ham clinics.
It is also known that 6 children and 4 expectant mothers resident in West Ham attended clinics
in other areas. The 20 sessions mentioned above include the special toddlers' sessions which
were commenced in 1950.
During 1953, 3,017 children attended in response to the invitations to come for examination
on their 2nd, 3rd or 4th birthday. Of these there were 248 children whose general
condition was recorded as fair, and 37 In whom it was recorded as poor. (There were 2,732
children whose general condition was regarded as good). In the same group of children there
were 139 whose general cleanliness of body and clothing was found to be below a standard
which could be regarded as good, and 14 in whom it was poor. There were two children whose
heads were infested with lice, and 2 were found to have infestation of the body (there were
2,864 children whose cleanliness was recorded as good).
The following is a list of the defects or deviations from normality found in the same
group of children. It includes conditions observed by the doctor or described by the mother
and recorded at the time of examination. The classification of defect in these pre-school
children has now been brought into line with the classification prescribed by the Ministry of
Education for school children (In order to allow comparisons to be made). The list does
not differentiate between major and minor defect, but no defect is recorded unless it is
considered necessary to advise treatment or to keep the child under observation.
Defect No. of children in which found
Teeth 460
Skin 64
Eyes (a) Vision 9
(b) Squint 88
(c) Other 21
Ears (a) Hearing 9
(b) Otitis media (R 8
(L 6
(c) Other 4
Hose or Throat 116
Speech 47
Cervical Glands 25
Heart and Circulation 20
Lungs 6 5
Development (a) Hernia 21
(b) Other 14
Orthopaedic (a) Posture 40
(b) Feet 151
(c) Other 74
Nervous System (a) Epilepsy 7
bj Other 13
Psychological (a) Mental Development l4
(b) (Stability ) 104
(Behaviour Difficulties)
Other Defects: 69
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