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Mothercraft Training. Sessions in which the teaching of relaxation is combined
with health education and parentcraft, held at one of the Municipal Centres in the
north of the Borough, have been continued throughout the year.
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 sessions per week held at
the Municipal Centres and at the South West Ham Child Welfare Centre. 19 children and
4 expectant mothers resident in neighbouring areas attended West Ham Clinics, and 10
children and 6 expectant mothers resident in West Ham are known to have attended clinics
in other areas.
The 20 sessions mentioned above include the special toddlers' clinics at which
2,890 children attended In response to the 8,029 invitations to come for examination on
their 2nd, 3rd or 4th birthday. There were 2,548 children whose general condition was
regarded as good, 296 children In whom It was recorded as fair, and 46 in whom it was
recorded as poor. In the same group of children there were 2,672 whose cleanliness of
body and clothing was recorded as good, 192 in whom it was found to be not entirely
satisfactory, and 26 in whom it was poor. There were 2 children who were found to have
infestation of the body.
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 is in line with that prescribed by the Ministry of Education for
school children. No differentiation is made between major and minor defects, but no
defect is recorded unless it is considered necessary to advise treatment or to keep the
child under observation.
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