Infant Mortality: A Continuing Social Problem A Continuing Social Problem

In 1906, Sir George Newman's 'Infant Mortality: A Social Problem', one of the most important health studies of the twentieth century, was published. To commemorate this anniversary, this volume brings together an interdisciplinary team of leading academics to evaluate Newman's critical contribution, to review current understandings of the history of infant and early childhood mortality, especially in Britain, and to discuss modern approaches to infant health as a continuing social problem. The volume argues that, even after 100 years of health programmes, scientific advances and medical interventions, early childhood mortality is still a significant social problem and it also proposes new ways of defining and tracking the problem of persistent mortality differentials.

Contents: Introduction; Infant mortality: a social problem?, Eilidh Garrett, Chris Galley, Nicola Shelton and Robert Woods. Part I: George Newman - a life in public health, Chris Galley; Newman's 'Infant Mortality' as an agenda for research, Robert Woods. Part II: Place and status as determinants of infant mortality in England c.1550-1837, Richard Smith and Jim Oeppen; A double penalty? Infant mortality in the Lincolnshire fens, 1870-1900, Sam Sneddon; Infant mortality in Northamptonshire: a vaccination register study, Tricia James; Urban-rural differences in infant mortality: a view from the death registers of Skye and Kilmarnock, Eilidh Garrett; Diarrhoea: the central issue?, Eric Hall and Michael Drake; Infant mortality, a spatial problem: Notting Dale special area in George Newman's London, Graham Mooney and Andrea Tanner; Health visitors and 'enlightened motherhood', Alice Reid. Part III: Infant mortality and social progress in Britain, 1905-2005, Danny Dorling; The health of infants at the beginning of the 21st century, Yvonne Kelly; Conclusion. The social dimension of infant well-being, Nicola Shelton; References; Index.

Dr Eilidh Garrett is from the University of London, Dr Chris Galley is from Barnsley College, Dr Nicola Shelton is from University College London, and Dr Robert Woods is from the University of Liverpool, all in the UK.