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14
In 1920, out of every 1,000 children born, 81 died before
reaching the age of one year, whereas in 1947 this figure had dropped
to 30, a reduction of 170 per cent. These figures assume an even
greater importance when one recalls that it has been said that for
every child dying in the first year of life, three survive crippled in
some way by the condition that caused the mortality. In this
connection it is interesting to note that during the years 1920
to 1924 the number of children dying before reaching the age of
five years was 2,519. The corresponding figure for the period
1943 to 1947 was 643. Again, in 1920, three out of every 1,000
mothers confined died in childbirth, whilst in 1947 no mothers
died. It is most unusual to have no deaths in childbirth and the
fact that this was the case in 1947 is truly remarkable when it is
remembered that over 3,700 Hackney mothers were confined in
that year.
The progress achieved as a result of the maternity and child
welfare services is best exemplified by comparing the health of
the children of to-day with that of 50 years ago, when rickets was
so very common and malnutrition, resulting generally from improper
feeding, was not regarded as a happening that should not have
occurred but rather as an unfortunate accident.
In these days, also, physical defects are detected at an early
age in life and can be remedied before they become permanent,
and the bandy-legged child, so common in the past, is now rarely,
if ever, seen.
Similarly, the ante-natal treatment and advice given to
expectant mothers have been the means of not only practically
eliminating the former risk of childbirth but also of considerably
reducing the number of difficult confinements.
Miss Howse, S.R.N., H.V.Cert., M.B.E., with the assistance
of Mr. Haynes and Mr. Long, Senior Housing Inspector, was very
successful in organising the eight day nurseries opened in this
borough in order to enable women to go to work during the war.
These day nurseries had provision for 415 children and are now a
permanent part of the maternity and child welfare services. Miss
Howse is now Superintendent Matron of the Lay Nursery Service
in the County of Hertford.
The Home Help Service, which deals with from 800 to 1,000
cases a week, was organised by Miss Burr, H.V.Cert., S.I.E.B.,
S.C.M., who was seconded from the duties of sanitary inspector to
build up this service at the end of the war. Miss Burr wrote a very
informative and useful book "The Home Help Service" which
has been highly commended by many medical officers of health.
Miss Burr is now Home Help Organiser for Kent County Council.