View report page

8
Infantile Mortality.
As previously mentioned, the total number of deaths of
children under one year of age was 65. Of these 20 occurred
under the age of one week, 2 between one and two weeks,
2 between two and three weeks, and 4 between three and four
weeks, a total under one month of 28. Six occurred between
one and two months, 4 between two and three months,
5 between three and four months, 3 between four and five
months, 3 between five and six months, 3 between six and
seven months, 2 between seven and eight months, 2 between
eight and nine months, 3 between nine and ten months,
2 between ten and eleven months, and 4 between eleven and
twelve months. Included in the above figures are 12 premature
births. The infantile mortality is equal to 21 per cent,
of all deaths, and 8'9 per centage of births. This is an
increase of 1 per cent, on the previous year.
I am pleased to be able to state that the deaths
which have taken place amongst infants under one year of age
shewed improvement as compared with the number of births
in all Wards. The returns proved that about one death
occurred to every 10 births.
The infant mortality rate in any district is far
more accurate as a statement of fact than any other of the
various rates included in vital statistics, as it is based on
registered births and deaths, and is not in any way influenced
by possible miscalculations in the estimate of the total population.
It has already been explained that non-residents
deaths are excluded in calculating a death rate. Non-resident
births are included, because otherwise they would not be
counted at all.
A careful study of the chief causes of the infant deaths
is necessary before any useful or practicable scheme for
reducing infant mortality can be suggested.
The 12 deaths attributed to Premature Birth is 1 more
than the number registered from the same cause last year.
Another important fact shewn in the table is that 12
infants died from such diseases as Atrophy, Debility or
Marasmus, this generally speaking, means in simple language,
Bad Feeding. Errors of diet are also the cause of most of the
fatal cases (7) of Diarrhoea.
The deaths amongst infants under one year of age since
1901, are as follows, viz.:—