FIGURES BEARING ON INFANT MORTALITY
Still-births and Miscarriages.
In collecting the letters, the object was not to obtain accurate statistics, but a general picture of the conditions of life during the period of maternity. It is, however, possible to give fairly accurate figures showing the proportions of the number of still-births, miscarriages, and deaths from pre-natal causes and injuries at birth, to the number of live births.
Of the 400 cases, 26 were childless, and 26 did not give definite figures. The number of families to which the following figures refer is therefore 348.
Total number of live births, 1,396.
Number of miscarriages, 218 (15·6 per 100 live births).
Number of still-births, 83 (5·9 per 100 live births).
Total of still-births and miscarriages, 301 (21·5 per 100 live births).
Of the 348 mothers, 148 (42·4 per cent.) had still-births or miscarriages. Twenty-two had both still-births and miscarriages, 37 had still-births, 89 had miscarriages. Of the 111 women who had miscarriages (including 22 who had still-births also)—
2 women had 10 miscarriages each.
1 woman had 8 miscarriages.
1 woman had 7 miscarriages.
3 women had 6 miscarriages each.
2 women had 5 miscarriages each.
6 women had 4 miscarriages each.
9 women had 3 miscarriages each.
17 women had 2 miscarriages each.
70 women had 1 miscarriage each.
Of the 52 women who had still-births (including 22 who had miscarriages also)—
1 woman had 5 still-births.
1 woman had 4 still-births.
3 women had 3 still-births each.
9 women had 2 still-births each.
45 women had 1 still-birth each.
Infant Deaths.
Total number of live births, 1,396.
Total number of deaths under 1 year, 122 (8·7 per 100 live births).
Of the 122 deaths, 26 took place in the first week of life, 12 between the first week and first month, and 23 later, owing to ante-natal causes or injury at birth.
Thus, 50 per cent. of the deaths occurred either within the first month or from ante-natal or natal causes after the first month.
Of the 348 mothers, 86 (24·7 per cent.) lost children in the first year of life.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD MEMORANDUM
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
A complete scheme would comprise the following elements, each of which will, in this connection, be organised in its direct bearing on infantile health:
1. Arrangements for the local supervision of Midwives.
2. Arrangements for—
- Ante-Natal.
- (1) An ante-natal clinic for expectant mothers.
- (2) The home visiting of expectant mothers.
- (3) A maternity hospital or beds at a hospital, in which complicated cases of pregnancy can receive treatment.
3. Arrangements for—
- Natal.
- (1) Such assistance as may be needed to ensure the mother having skilled and prompt attendance during confinement at home.
- (2) The confinement of sick women, including women having contracted pelvis or suffering from any other condition involving danger to the mother or infant, at a hospital.
- Post-Natal.
- (1) The treatment in a hospital of complications arising after parturition, whether in the mother or in the infant.
- (2) The provision of systematic advice and treatment for infants at a baby clinic or infant dispensary.
- (3) The continuance of these clinics and dispensaries, so as to be available for children up to the age when they are entered on a school register—i.e., the register of a public elementary school, nursery school, crèche, day nursery, school for mothers or other school.
- (4) The systematic home visitation of infants and of children not on a school register as above defined.
Local Government Board, Whitehall, S.W.
July, 1914.