Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1942, Blaðsíða 256
254
11. Maternitij (see tables XII—XIV). The total number of births
in 1942 was 3024 born alive and 77 stillborn, or 24.8$0 of the total
number.
Deaths from accidents of childbirth and puei'peral sepsis during the
preceding years have been as follows:
1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942
Accidents of Childbirth .......... 4 6 7 3 6 3 3 4 10 8
Puerperal Sepsis ................. 3 2 3 1 3 3 2 1 3 3
Total Number of Deaths ........... 7 8 10 4 9 6 5 5 13 11
The maternity death rate 1942 is 3,6 per 1000 children born alive.
The distribution of accidents of childbirth is shown on page 13,
12. Arlificial abortion (see table XII).
During the year 65 artificial abortions took place under the Birth
Control Act, which canie into operation in 1935 (in the preceding year
there bad been 52). Tn 15 out of these 65 cases social as well as health
indications had been taken into consideration.
13. Accidents. The figure of deaths by accidents (1,1 per 1000 of the
whole population) was not so treinendously high as last year’s
( 1,6%0), but still a lot higher than the average number before the war.
14. Care of infants may be said to be fairly good, the great majority
of the children being breast-fed. The midwives have made out a report
(table XIII) concerning 2924 infants born during the year (out of
3101 births). In 2832 cases the nutrition of the infants after birth is
reported as follows (Reykjavik figures in brackets):
Breast-fed ................ 91,7 % (96,6%)
Breast- and bottle-fed .... 4,1— ( 1,5—)
Bottle-fed only ........... 4,2— ( 1,9—)
15. Sanitanj officials and workers (see lable I). The total number
of trained medical men in Iceland was 156 in 1942. There are 50 medi-
eal districts, and hither to they have as a rule been filled. The
number of midwives holding appointments is 196, while the number
of districts is 207. Traincd nurses do little service outside hospitals.
Dentists are very few. Tr.ained dispensing chemists are only in the
larger towns, in villages and in the country the district medical
officers have a small drug store.
16. General insurance. The National Insurance Act from 1936
(amended 1940) covers besides diseases: accident, disablement and
old age insurance. In all urban districts insurance against loss of health
is obligatory for persons, whose annual income does not exceed a fixed
minimum, in rural districts the parish councils may, after a general
vote has been taken, adopt compulsory insurance. 34,0% of the
population are now insured under the National Insurance Act
(children who are insured with their parents not included).