Report / Department of Public Health, Tasmania.

  • Tasmania. Department of Public Health.
Date:
[1936]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report / Department of Public Health, Tasmania. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/26 (page 11)
    The incidence of Pyrexia after child-birth in a number of patients accommodated at a public maternity hospital formed the subject of investi¬ gation by the Department. This revealed that there was no evidence of sepsis of any nature among the general or nursing staffs. Moreover, the equipment was adequate, modern, and well up to the standard, whilst every precaution appeared to have been exercised to prevent sepsis and spread of infection once it had occurred. As the result of the commemoration of the jubilee of the late King George V. and Queen Mary by means of a fund to be devoted to the reduction of maternal and infantile mortality, various institutions and organisations benefited to the extent of £11,165 18s. 6d., representing the amount contributed in Tasmania from the follow¬ ing sources:— £ s. d. Total State collections (various sources) 665 18 6 Commonwealth contribution . 5500 0 0 State appropriation, 1985-36 5000 0 0 Cabinet, on the recommendation of the com¬ mittee appointed for the purpose, approved of the following allocations:— £ s. d. Provision of model maternity hospital, as outlined by Federal Government, at the new Public Hospital, Hobart . 7000 0 0 £ s. d. Bush Nursing . 1000 0 0 St. Mary’s District Hospital (new maternity block) . 1000 0 0 Child Welfare Association, Hobart 850 0 0 Queen Alexandra Hospital, Hobart .... . 500 0 0 Public maternity hospitals, equipment for (including Zeehan District Hos¬ pital, £137) . 665 18 6 Child Welfare Association, Devonport .... 150 0 0 Infantile Mortality.—During the year there were 227 deaths of children under one year, giv¬ ing an infantile mortality rate (deaths per thousand births) of 49-6, compared with 231 deaths and a rate of 51-8 for the previous year. Our figures, unfortunately, are much higher than those of any other State of the Commonwealth, although influences adverse to infant life are no less favourable in Tasmania than in those States. For years past, there have been available well- organised child-welfare services, and treatment centres for the assistance of mothers in child¬ birth. Nevertheless, it is recorded by recognised medical sanitarians that the infant rate is a sen¬ sitive index of the general health. It would seem to be apparent that there is a large field for further study and investigation of the problems asso¬ ciated with such a high rate in Tasmania. Tables G-J, containing statistical data in regard to infantile mortality, are appended. Table G. INFANTILE Mortality. Number of Deaths under One Year in Tasmania for the last 20 Calendar Years. Y ear. GO 05 o ox CO lO to 00 05 o rH <N CO lO to pH rH rH ox CN ox CN ox <N CU (M cx CO CO CO CO co CO CO 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 03 05 05 05 03 05 05 05 05 05 05 rH -1 rH rH r—< rH rH rH rH r—< rH j rH rH rH rH rH rH Deaths. .. pH 00 321 343 374 451 324 326 296 1 *>• 00 1 _ . _ 232 256 300 255 242 219 185 187 189 231 227 Infantile Mortality Rate (Deaths per 1000 Births.) Year. Tasmania. N.S.W. Victoria. I Queens¬ land. South Australia. West Australia. New Zealand. North. T’tory. Federal Cap. Ter. Co’mon- wealth. 1924. 55-0 58-9 61-3 51-2 51-3 49-9 40-2 ... 57-0 1925. % 55‘0 «»*' 55-0 57-0 45-2 46-1 56-6 40-0 • • • • • • 53-4 1926. 46-5 57-6 55-7 50-7 44-3 49-3 39-8 • • . • . . 54-0 1927. 53-0 54-9 56-1 54-5 53-4 45-9 38-7 • •• . • • 54-5 1928. 63-97 54-9 55-6 45-5 47-5 48-1 36-2 60-2 116-7 53-0 1929. 53-1 56-6 47-2 46-1 40-9 56-2 34 • 1 18-9 19-6 51-1 1930. 50-6 49-8 46-5 40-2 48-3 46-7 34-5 70-4 24-4 47-2 1931. 46-0 43-5 44-5 36-6 36-5 41-5 32-2 83-3 37-3 42-1 1932. 41-2 41-1 43-0 40-3 36-6 44-6 31-2 75-9 26-5 41-3 1933. 41 *1 39-3 40-4 42-6 31-9 36-8 31-6 94-6 53-4 39-5 1934. 42-3 46 ‘ 4 44-6 40-6 35-6 40-9 32-1 68-18 7-46 43-6 1935. 51-8 39-4 41-2 37-8 34-9 40-2 32 3 83-3 47-3 39-8 1936. 49-6 43-5 42-3 36-3 31 -1 40 -2 31-0 26-6 25-3 41-1 W* I _! 1 1