M 136
Infant mortality.
As might be expected from the very different standards of living enjoyed by the Non-Chinese community as compared with the vast bulk of the indigenous population, the loss of infant life is far higher in the second group.
In the year under review the figures were 46 and 376 respectively and the ratio was even worse in 1936 as may be seen from Table LXXIII.
Table LXXIII.
Year Non-Chinese Chinese 1933 88 455 1934 50 347 1935 57 316 1936 37 372 1937 46 376Deaths according to age.
Owing to the fact that the system employed in 1937 in the compilation of weekly mortality returns did not permit of classification into the two sexes, it is not possible on this occasion to classify the age-groups at which deaths took place into sexes.
Reference to Table LXXIV will show that approximately one third of the recorded deaths occurred in infants under one year of age and that nearly forty-five per centum of all deaths took place within the first five years of life—a very definite indication of the need for very active steps on the part of Government to secure early improvement in environmental hygiene, housing, disposal of wastes, nutrition, etc., and in the provision of adequate maternal and child welfare services.
Table LXXIV.
Under 1 year 1-5 years 5-15 years 15-30 years 30-60 years over 60 years unknown age 11,650 3,888 1,260 4,484 9,387 3,824 142*Eleven deaths among the Forces of the Crown are not included in this table.