Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1943, Blaðsíða 212
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11. Maternity (see tables XII—XIV). The total number of births
in 1943 was 3170 born alive and 04 stillborn, or \9,8%c of the total
number.
Deaths in connection with childbirth during the preceding years
have been as follows:
1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943
Accidents of childbirtli .... 6 7 3 6 3 3 410 8 7
l’uerperal Sepsis ........... 2 3 1 3 3 2 1 3 3 3
Total number of deaths .... 8 10 4 9 6 5 5 13 11 10
The maternity death rate 1943 is 3,2 per 1000 children born.
The distribution of accidents of childbirth is shown on page 12.
12. Artificial abortion (see table XII).
During the year 46 artificial abortions took place under the Birth
Control Act, which came into operation in 1935 (in the preceding year
there had been 65). In 14 out of these 46 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 somewhat higher than last year’s and 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 3095 infants born during the year (out of
3234 births). In 3003 cases the nutrition of the infants after birth is
reported as follows (Reykjavik figures in brackets):
Breast-fed ................. 91,5 % (96,9 %)
Breast- and bottle-fed .... 3,8— ( 2,0—)
Bottle-fed only ............ 4,7 — ( 1,1 —)
15. Sanitary officiats and workers (see table I). The total number
of trained medical men in Iceland was 156 in 1943. There are 50 medi-
cal districts, but there is a beginning difficulty in filling some of the
smallest and remotest. 'I'he number of midwives holding appointments
is 183, while the number of districts is 207. Trained nurses do little
service outside hospitals. Dentists are verv few. Trained dispensinfj
chemists are only in the larger towns, in villages and in the country
the districts 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 compulsorjr insurance. 36,0% of the
population are now insured under the National Insurance Act
(children who are insured with their parents not included).