VITAL STATISTICS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 21, 24 July 1940, Page 15

VITAL STATISTICS

BIRTH-RATE UP

HEALTH OF COMMUNITY

DIRECTOR'S REVIEW

A fall in the death-rate from 9.71 per thousand mean population (exclusive of Maoris) in the preceding year to 9.20 per thousand mean population is shown in the annual report of the Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt), which was tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon There was a marked decline in the number of deaths from pneumonia and measles, which accounted for part of the fall in: the death-rate. An increase in the birth-rate was also noted. The infant mortality x-ate was 31.14 per thousand live bh'ths, compared with 35.63 in 1938. The 1939 rate is the second lowest recorded, and is only beaten by the rate of 30.96 in 1936. The still-birth rate was 31.21 (27.3 in 1938), arid this is the highest rate since 1930. The total births was 28,833, equivalent to a rate of 18.73 per thousand mean population. The number of births registered was the highest since 1922 and the birthrate the highest since 1930. The maternal mortality rate (including deaths from septic abortion) was 3.64 per thousand live births, compared with 4.07 in 1938. Exclusive,of deaths from septic abortion,, the maternal mortality rate was 2.95. NOTIFIABLE DISEASES. The total number of cases of notifiable diseases in 1939, exclusive of Maoris, was' 3260, compared with 3790 in 1938. The report refers to the value of active immunisation in the prevention of diphtheria. Dr. F. S. Maclean, Medical Officer of Health, Wellington, reporting on such a campaign conducted by Dr. Wyn. Irwin, makes this comment: "Viewed purely as an economic proposition the wholesale immunisation of young children would seem to be well worth while. The cost of hospital treatment alone of 200 children suffering from diphtheria and requiring on an average six weeks' treatment each, would probably amount to at least £4000. To this must be added the school time lost to patients and their contacts, and the incalculable cost of the. inevitable deaths or resulting invalidity. If the school population of the Wellington Hospital Board 1 area were immunised and it became the practice thereafter to immunise pre-school children between the ages of six months and one year, a maximum total of about 3000 would need immunisation yearly. This would be far cheaper than providing hospital treatment for 200 children, and that it would be effective has been clearly shown by the experience of Hamilton and other Canadian cities." Deaths from tuberculosis totalled 613, compared with 597 in 1938. The death-rate per 10,000 in 1935 was 3.8«. in 1936 4.56, in 1937 3.91, in 1938 3.93, and in 1939 3.98. Measures adopted in New Zealand for combating the disease are set out. DENTAL HYGIENE. Referring to dental hygiene the report records that the school dental service has developed to the extent that treatment centres number 321 and 101,701 children receive regular dental treatment and instruction in oral hygiene. The Maori population for 1939 was 89,092. The death-rate for the year was 19.92 (24.31 in 1938), and the infant mortality rate was 114.92 per 1000 live births (153.26 in 1938). The Maori birth-rate was 46.20 per 1000 population, as against 42.37 in 1938. Excess of births over deaths, the report states, gives the Maori race the satisfactory natural increase of 2.63 per cent. The death-rate from all forms of tuberculosis was 44 per 10,000 of population.