Annual report of the Medical Department / Uganda Protectorate.

  • Uganda Protectorate. Medical Department.
Date:
[1950]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Department / Uganda Protectorate. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    26/56 (page 22)
    Using European experience, it would be expected that about one- quarter of all deaths of infants during the first year of life would occur during the period the mother is in hospital. It seems that the second assumption gives a more realistic estimate, and that while still-births are low, the maternal mortality rate gives no cause for complacency. Table 20 Causes of maternal death 1949 1950 Sepsis 27 25 Toxaemia... 3 5 Haemorrhage 33 37 Abortion ... 12 11 Ruptured uterus 39 40 Other complications 100 97 Total Maternal Deaths ... 214 215 Ruptured uterus occurs in all parts of the Protectorate, and there is nothing to suggest that it is due to previous Caesarean section. The three African hospitals in Kampala reported 16 deaths between them, and it seems that ante-natal supervision does not reduce the proportion of deaths due to this cause and that the total rate still remains high. Table 21 African Hospitals, Kampala With Without ante-natal ante-natal supervision supervision Total attending 7031 Total deliveries 2,358 662 Total deaths 14 33 Deaths from ruptured uterus... 5 11 Native ecbolic drugs are occasionally mentioned in reports of maternal deaths, but in no case in 1950 were they suggested as the likely cause of rupture of the uterus. The only remedy which appears likely to reduce ; mortality from this cause, and in other cases of prolonged and obstructed i labour, is to bring into hospital as speedily as possible any parturient woman . who is experiencing abnormal delay. F. School Health No medical officer was available for school duties in Kampala, and 1 the shortage of European staff in other stations has prevented any special work in this branch. Routine examinations have been carried out by t Assistant Health Inspectors in their areas. Children are encouraged to 1 bring food with them for a mid-day meal. Overcrowding still exists in Kampala, but two of the Indian schools 1 were collecting funds for rebuilding programmes. The health of the children