asked the Minister for Health if he will state the mortality rate of infants in their first year of life in (a) Dublin; (b) Cork; (c) Galway, and (d) various State-aided homes for unmarried mothers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infant Mortality.
As the reply is mainly in the form of tabular statements, I propose, a Chinn Chomhairle, with your permission, to circulate it with the Official Report.
The following is the reply:—
|
Area |
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births |
|
|
1949 |
1950(provisional) |
|
|
Dublin County Borough |
64 |
48 |
|
Dublin County |
51 |
54 |
|
Cork County Borough |
74 |
55 |
|
Cork County |
53 |
39 |
|
Galway County (including Galway Borough) |
41 |
49 |
As the Deputy is aware, the failure of unmarried mothers to take adequate care of their health in the ante-natal period results in a higher infant mortality rate amongst illegitimate children than amongst legitimate children. Despite this well-known fact, the following table, which shows in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1950, the number of deaths of infants under one year in the four main homes for unmarried mothers which receive financial assistance from public funds, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children born in the home concerned or admitted to it after birth, indicates that the rates compare favourably with the general rate in some, at least, of the homes:—
|
Home A. |
1.3% |
|
Home B. |
6.5% |
|
Home C. |
8.3% |
|
Home D. |
10.1% |
Figures for later periods are not yet available.
Unmarried mothers and their children are, of course, maintained in other voluntary institutions which receive contributions from public funds and in local authority institutions (e.g. county homes), which cater for other classes as well. Circumstances in regard to admissions to such institutions vary so greatly, however, that it would be difficult to establish valid comparisons.