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55
Infantile Deaths
A total of 38 deaths under 1 year of age is recorded, giving a rate of 21.74
per thousand live births. Five of these deaths occurred at home and the remaining
33 in hospital. 28 of the deaths were neonatal deaths, i.e. they occurred in the
first month of life.
The Causes
(i) Prematurity. 13 deaths are listed under this heading. Six of these deaths
occurred within 24 hours and three others within 48 hours and a further two within
a week. The remaining two died within a month.
(ii) Congenital Malformation. Six deaths from this cause are listed. The malformations
included serious deformities of the heart, brain and spinal cord.
(iii) Birth Injuries. Five deaths were due in three cases to cerebral haemorrhage
and in two cases to other intracranial haemorrhages.
(iv) Atelectasis. The four deaths from these causes occurred within three days.
Two of the cases were associated with prematurity.
(v) Other Diseases of Respiratory Tract. Five deaths occurred from broncho
pneumonia at one week, one month, three months, seven and 11 months respectively.
The death at one week was associated with prematurity. Of the four other cases
two were due to acute capillary bronchitis, another suppurative bronchitis, and
the last to severe bronchitis.
(vi) Enteritis Two deaths under this heading were due to acute gastro-enteritis
at ages one month and twelve weeks.
(vii) other causes
(a) Fracture of skull and subarachnoid haemorrhage. This was an open
verdict after coroner s inquest. Age 5 minutes.
(b) Inhalation of amniotic fluid at birth.
(c) Cause unknown probably malignant disease association with Ascites or
Hepatomegaly.