INFANT WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 11

INFANT WELFARE

ANOTHER RECORD'

LOW DEATH RATE

The infantile mortality rate (deaths of children-, under one year of age) in 1926 was 39.76 per 1000 births. For the third year in succession this represents a record low rate. The rate has fallen from 50.57 in 1920, and the indications are that further improvement is still possible. The rate in 1926 would have b<Sen still lower had it not been for the' epidemic of whooping-cough which occurred last year, and which had the effect of causing the deaths of a number of children who had got past the dangerous first month of life.

The rate fo- the first month of life, 25.46 per 1000 births, shows a continuation of the fall .which has been recorded in this rato during tho last few years—*inee, it may bo noted, the establishment of public ante-natal clinics. The indications point to the fact that these clinics; and other steps being taken-towards ensuring healthy babies 'being born arc already meeting with some-measure of success. As is well known, New Zealand has for long had. the lowest rate of infantile mortality la the world. Tho-figures for tho latest available five years for various countries- are:—. : •''■■■: * r ' ■ ' . Kates per Country.. 1000 Birth*. New Zealand ;....".. 41 Norway ...:/...' 50 Australia ;■..; ;.............' 58 -^ Sweden 60 Netherlands 64 Irish Free State TO Switzerland ...................... 70 South Africa .................... . 71 England-Wales 76 United States 7T Northern Ireland .".... 82 Canada ..... ..•„'...; 81 Denmark: £5 Scotland ........... 90 France , 94 Belgium ;.'.-.;. 102 Germany? „ 122 Italy ..,........; «... 13S. Japan 158 Hungary , 189 Ceylon .....;.. 190 Rumania 209 Chile ...... .'.. 266 While New Zealand loses. during the first year ; of . life one child in every twenty-five born, Germany loses one in every eight, and Chilo one in every four. ...