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65
It is gratifying to note that despite the fall in the birth-rate
from 20.8 in 1926 to 16.4 in 1930 the attendances of children at the
infant welfare centres has been fully maintained. Indeed, the
number of children attending the centres for the first time in
relation to the number of births registered rose from 63.6 in 1926
to 71.9 in 1930.
ANTE-NATAL CLINICS.
The extensions of this service during the last five years are as
follow:—
The opening of a Clinic at St. Michael's Hall, Northwold Road,
and an additional session at the Lower Clapton Centre. The
Salvation Army at their Mothers' Hospital, Lower Clapton Road,
hold three sessions weekly.
Special ante-natal clinics are now held at four of the five
municipal infant welfare centres and at one of the four voluntary
centres in the Borough.
The importance of the periodical examination of expectant
mothers from the third month of pregnancy until the birth of the
child cannot be exaggerated. Indeed, the Minister of Health, in
Memo. 156/M.C.W., dated 11th December, 1930, emphasises the
importance of ante-natal examination and places the absence of
this precautionary measure first in the list of four main causes of
death of women in childbirth into which enquiry has been made.
Consequent upon the issue of this memorandum the Council's
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee has taken into consideration
the question of extending the ante-natal service of the Borough,
and I am able to report progress in this direction. (See page 66.)
The exchange of information between midwives and the
ante-natal clinics as to ante-natal examinations and subsequent
confinement has continued to operate with success.
The clinics already provided have been fully utilised during
the year and, as will be seen from the following tables there has
been no diminution in the number of attendances of expectant
mothers, despite the decrease in the number of births referred to
earlier in the Report.