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Convalescence.
The following are the numbers of mothers and children sent for recuperative
holidays during 1954:-
Unaccompanied children under 5 years 34
Mothers with Children 25
TOTAL: 59
The number of unaccompanied children is considerably lower than in the previous
year, and this is in accordance with the policy of avoiding unnecessary separation of
the young child from his mother.
More mothers with their children might have been offered this service if a larger
number of suitable holiday homes were available.
As in previous years the administrative arrangements for convalescence have been
in the capable hands of the West Ham Branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Vital Statistics.
The following are the statistics for 1954 compared with the provisional rates for
England and Wales which have been published by the Registrar General:-
For
West Ham
For
England & Wales
Stillbirth rate per 1,000 total births
26.9
24.0
Infant Mortality rate per 1,000 live births
21.5
25.5.
Neonatal Death rate per 1,000 live births
14.9
17.7
Maternal Mortality rate per 1,000 live births
and stillbirths
0.71
O.69
The infant mortality rate is the lowest on record for West Ham, and below the
national rate, but the stillbirth rate has risen and remains above the national rate,
even though the latter has also increased. The causes of stillbirths are often difficult
to assess. Some, though known, are difficult to prevent, but some are preventable, and
all concerned with the maternity service in the area would do well to consider what part
they can play in reducing this wastage of infant life.
The total infant deaths and stillbirths combined, are shown In the diagram on page
the number being 135 (59 deaths and 76 stillbirths), a decrease of 17 from the previous
year (in which there were 82 deaths and JO stillbirths).
The Registrar General's Classification of causes of deaths in infants under 1 year
is as follows:-
Bronchitis 1
Other Infective & Parasitic Diseases 1
Gastritis, Enteritis and Diarrhoea 3
Pneumonia 4
Congenital Malformations 15
Other Defined & 111 Defined Diseases 35
59.
43