[Report 1915] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City.

  • Leeds City Council
Date:
1915
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1915] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/114 (page 49)
    ANTE-NATAL WORK. This is undoubtedly a question of great importance. Reference to the table of infant mortality on page 43 shews how great is the loss of life during the first month. In the same category are the still births, numbering 350 in 1915, to say nothing of the extremely numerous abortions and miscarriages, the number of which we can only guess. All these represent not an inevitable, but a partly preventable loss of life, and it is by ante-natal work that we seek to attack the problem. Ante-natal hygiene deals with personal matters about which there is naturally a great deal of reserve. Expectant mothers are sensitive. Therefore, if the work is to prosper it must begin slowly, justifying itself every step of the way, and winning the confidence of those it seeks to help. Home Visiting.—In Leeds our women inspectors have for some years worked in co-operation with the maternity department of the General Infirmary. During 1915, 232 expectant mothers were visited at their homes, and 481 visits in all were paid to these mothers. The inspector was able to advise the mothers on many points as regards mode of life, clothing and the preparation of clothing for the infant. The condition of the house was also inspected. In seven cases sanitary defects were found, and the necessary steps taken to have the nuisance abated. Cleansing of the house was indicated in 27 cases. Any of these mothers requiring medical treatment were of course referred to the General Infirmary. Clinics.—There is so far no definite ante-natal clinic at which medical advice and treatment is regularly available for expectant mothers. There are however, meetings for expectant mothers one afternoon per week at each of seven infant welfare centres. At these meetings the mothers have lectures on the hygiene of pregnancy and the care of infants, and they are taught to make a cheap but efficient hygienic outfit for the coming child. If the nurse is of opinion that there is any obstetric complication then the mother is referred to her doctor or to an institution and the case is followed up to see that treatment, if necessary, has been obtained. The following table shows the number of mothers attending in 1915 at each centre.