Statistics Reports of an extremely high infantile mortality rate in refugee camps in Shanghai are exaggerated, he "North-China Daily News" was informed yesterday. Investigations reveal that the mortality rate is not considered excessive in a country like China.
The question was recently brought up by the medical committee of the Shanghai International Red Cross when it was stated that the exaggerated figures emanated from certain organizations. Surveys made by public health nurses show that the infant mortality rate from September, 1937, to August, 1938 among a total of 16,834 refugees was about 225 per thousand living births, a rate not considered excessive in this country.
Doctors of the Red Cross clinics in a survey over a period of eight months revealed a mortality rate of 193 per thousand, while the rate at the Refugee Children's Hospital during the past nine months varied between 6.6 per cent. in July, 1938, to 413 per cent. in December, 1937. Health Department figures show that the total number of deaths, Children and adults, reported from all refugee camps inspected by the Department never exceeded 670 per month,
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