asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) of the Medical Research Council that 29 per cent of gastro-enteritis came from what were considered poor home conditions, and that almost 50 per cent of cases came from households with an income of less than £10 per week; and, if so, if he has proposals for rectifying this situation.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers. - Gastro-Enteritis Survey.
8.
I have recently received the report of the gastro-enteritis survey in Dublin city carried out by the Medical Research Council.
As regards the specific points referred to by the Deputy in his question I would like to point out that the survey related to the period 1964 to 1966 and this factor must be taken into account in relating certain findings to present-day conditions. For example, the income level of £10 per week referred to would not be relevant at present — the industrial wage has risen by 63.2 per cent since 1964 as against an increase of 35.7 per cent in the cost of living index. Furthermore, for the purposes of the survey the ratings of home conditions were not related specifically to economic factors but were based on general standards of home hygiene. I would like to point out that the report of the chief medical officer, Dublin Health Authority for the year 1969, which is the latest available, states that, of the 1,320 cases of gastro-enteritis notified in Dublin city, 1,125 came from good class corporation and private dwellings.
The Medical Research Council survey indicates that the incidence of the disease was related to other factors as well as social conditions, for example, hygiene is a most important consideration. The findings of the survey are at present under examination in my Department.
For some years Dublin Health Authority have, as a practical measure to assist in controlling the disease, arranged for their public health nurses to advise mothers with young children of the importance of hygienic practices such as, the washing of hands after using the toilet and after attending to the toilet needs of young children and also the keeping of babies food uncontaminated from the same sources.
Would the Minister not agree that this report is long out of date or that this same thing refers to the present lower income group? Secondly, will he not agree that the main reason for this is that there is very serious overcrowding in many urban areas due to so many subtenants in these houses who are awaiting proper accommodation?
I would not agree. I have to rely on the chief medical officer of the Dublin Health Authority. I have already given the Deputy the figures. He said that out of 1,320 cases of gastro-enteritis 1,125 came from good-class corporation and private dwellings. Furthermore, from reading the survey it is perfectly evident that lack of housing is one factor, and the Minister for Local Government and the Dublin Corporation are increasing the number of houses available to people in Dublin as rapidly as possible. It is equally clear that in the case of a very great number of homes in Dublin there can be an improvement in hygienic methods. If the Deputy reads the whole of the report he will see that the incidence of gastro-enteritis occurred in a great number of homes where the conditions are good. This again shows it is a question of hygiene and of more preventative educational work by the public health nurses. We are examining this report, which has a great many features in it which would apply to any year, in the hope of being able to improve the hygienic methods in relation to feeding babies. I might add that this occurs in other countries besides our own.
I read this report and it does not take into account——
Has the Deputy a question to put?
Has this report taken into account the number of households where conditions are poor?
It refers to conditions as being——
Hygienic conditions and unhygienic conditions are related to the degree of overcrowding.
It refers to the conditions being good, fair and poor. If the Deputy looks at the number of cases of gastro-enteritis where the conditions were regarded by the surveyor as good or fair, he will see there is a problem there. I am not denying to the Deputy that where the conditions are poor there is an additional possibility of children contracting gastro-enteritis, and that is a social problem which we shall have to overcome by the continuation of the housing campaign.