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16
CARE OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
ANTE-NATAL CARE
The number of live births has been declining for some years and this year
it was 4,435 compared with 6,050 in 1864. As a result the pressure on hospital
out-patient departments has eased so much that they are now able to deal with
a larger proportion of the ante-natal care for women booked for hospital
confinement. The Council's ante-natal clinics however, are often nearer an
expectant mother's home and in consequence more convenient for the mother to
attend.

The Tuesday morning session at West Hackney Maternal and Child Health
Centre was discontinued in November because of low attendances over the
preceding few months.
Seven general practitioner obstetricians are provided with accommodation
in the Council's clinics and a midwife is in attendance at their sessions.
The Gravindex test is now used at cytology and ante-natal clinics. The
Pregnosticon Piano test has been supplied for use at family planning clinics
by medical officers trained in its use.
Education classes have been held for expectant mothers. The subjects
dealt with include the preparation of women for labour, the care of their
health during pregnancy and also many facets of the care of their young
babies. Attendances at these classes dropped a little, consequent upon
the fewer births.
The number of women who attended during 1969 is shown below:-
Total number who attended 257
Total attendances 1,004
Number of Sessions 155
There were no maternal deaths in the borough during the year.
CHILD HEALTH CENTRES
The fall in the birth rate, previously mentioned, naturally results in a
drop in attendances at child health clinics. There has been no reduction in
the percentage of babies being brought to the clinics, but as each child may
be brought on average ten times in the first year of life a fall of 500 in the
number of births means a fall of 5,000 in the number of attendances.
Attendances at the child health centres in 1969 are tabulated below.