Health > Memorandum relating to the enquiries into the causes and prevention of still-births and mortality during the first year of life

INTRODUCTION
The enquiries conducted under the auspices of the Health Organisation into
the causes and prevention of still-births and of mortality under one year have been
completed in several European countries : Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain,
Italy, the Netherlands and Norway, and also in the following South American countries :
the Argentine, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.1
At their last meeting, when the results of their enquiry were presented, the European
experts invited by the Health Organisation to co-operate in these investigations
recommended that similar enquiries should be carried out by the health authorities
of the various countries. Such enquiries are, in fact, contemplated, or are already
proceeding, in the following European countries : Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Roumania,
Spain, Yugoslavia and in several countries of South America and of Asia. It is
probable that their example will be followed by other countries.
Since the method employed enables the relative importance of the different medical,
social and health factors influencing infant mortality in the districts investigated to
be estimated, it should greatly assist the various health authorities in determining
the causes of infant mortality in their country and deciding upon the most suitable
means for its prevention. The data, which will then be available for all countries,
will finally make it possible to formulate an international doctrine regarding infant
mortality and its prevention.
The Health Section is anxious that a description of the methods employed and
of the results obtained in the first European countries in which they have been applied
should immediately be placed at the disposal of health authorities, and has accordingly
prepared this memorandum for their guidance.
1 The results of the enquiries carried out in these four South American countries will be published later.