Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-11
Reducing Infant Deaths.

suggestions to the health committee OF
the Washington Council OF Social
Agencies on ways and means for rcduc-
ing the infant and maternal mortahty
rate in the District of Columbia. The
suggestions will be studied with interest
not only by the committee, but by the
other agencies of the city allied IN the
work of making Washington safer
city in which child may be born. Miss
Abbott's suggestions will be drawn. no
doubt. from the valuable information
obtained by the Children's Bureau in its
study of infant mortality throughout the
United States. Such information should
be helpful in Washington.
In addressing the Council OF Social
Agencies on Monday Miss Abbott gave
statistics showing the infant mortality
rate in the District for the year 1925
as compared with the rate for the coun-
try as a whole. In that year the gen.
eral average for both white and colored
in the District was 87.S per 1000 births.
as compared to the figure I'll for the
United States as whole. The mortal
ity rate among whites in the District
was 673 and among colored 1t was
1891, while for the whole country the
white rate was 683 and the colored
rate ll08. These figures were disturb
ing. for they showed the District in a
poor light for. that year as compared
with the rates for the United States
as a whole. The figures are not as dis
comforting as they might be, however.
for since 1925, the year cited by Miss
Abbott, the mortality rate among both
white and colored in Washington has
shown a satisfactory and steady de-
cline. In 1927. the year just closed, the
general average for the District dropped
to $50; the rate among whites decreased
to ATS. and among colored to LOT. In
1926, the figures also came below those
quoted by Miss Abbott. For that year
the general average in the District was
s4.s: for the whites, 66.7. and for the
colored. 1913. Other figures might be
pointed out to show the great progress
made in reducing the infant mortality
rate in the District in the last thirty
years. In 1895. for instance. the in
FAINT mortality rate here was 2e7 per
1000.
ENCOURAGING as these figures are.
however. they do not represent the ir-
reducible minimum in infant mortality
rates toward which our agencies in the
District are striving today. Miss Alb
bolts statement that Washington should
be made a demonstration center for the
rest of the country. TO show what can
be accomplished in the reduction OF in
FAINT mortality. is heartily approved
Possibly the greatest need In that direc-
ton today is money. The District now
operates ten child hygiene stations. TO
which mothers may bring their children
for weighing and physical examina-
ton. At the same time. the mothers
are advised as TO their diet and gen.
erai care. But limited funds prevent
these stations from doing all OF the
work that lies within their power. Most
Of them are open only twice a week.
one day for white mothers, one day for
colored mothers. II the yearly fund OF
SIS, 600 for the maintenance OF these
stations were increased, the field for
their work would be appreciabiy broad
ened, and more time could be spent in
that very necessary form Of education
which lies In prenatal advice.
Many things contribute TO lowering
the infant and maternal mortality
rates Of city. Purity OF water and
milk supply. enforcement OF sanitary
regulations, provision Of hygienic nous
ing, all of these play their part. Pos
sibly the most valuable OF them all.
however, is propaganda. directed at
arousing the interest OF mothers In the
care OF themselves and o! their chill
dren. At the same time adequate
agencies must be set up TO furnish the
advice and instruction sought as a re-
suit Of this propaganda. And this re-
auires more money than is available IN
Washington today. The records OF the
last few years are complimentary 1
the citys health authorities and those
self~sacrihcing men and women VINO
are constantly working To save the hveS
u mothers and babies. They are
headed in the right direction now, and
with proper support they viii reach
their goal.