View report page

28
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
During the year 281 deaths occurred in children under one year of
age.
The deaths for preceding years were: 351 in 1908; 380 in 1907;
466 in 1906; 854 in 1905; 496 in 1904; 401 in 1903; 394 in 1902,
and 481 in 1901.
The infantile mortality rates are given on the preceding table.
These rates based on the number of deaths to 1,000 registered births
are accurate as not depending upon assumed but ascertained figures.
The slightly lower rate given by me for 1909, compared with that
given by the Registrar-General is due to the faulty (and the only)
methods of obtaining our death returns.
From the figures it will be noticed that the much improved and
satisfactory rates of 1907-8, compared with previous years, are more
than maintained; and it would be most gratifying if one could believe
that the improvement was due to the efforts made to conserve infant
life, and to improved hygienic surroundings in the homes of our people.
Infant mortality depends on so many varying causes, acting before
and after birth, that it is unsafe to attribute the fewer deaths of infants
in recent years to any particular measures taken on their behalf.
The recent wet summer and consequent lessened mortality from
Diarrhoea, and the decreasing birth-rate ensuring greater care in
"mothering," account for much.
Since 1905, by the instructions of the Local Government Board, the
deaths of all children under one year are classified as in the following
Table VIII. (Local Government Board, Form V.).
Of the 281 children so dealt with, 129 died within the first month of
life, and of these the great majority were from prematurity and developmental
defects—sheer inability to live.
The number so dying in preceding years was no greater, although the
birth-rate was much higher, and contrary to what one would expect
social conditions do not seem to influence much the proportion of these
deaths to the total from all causes.