Chapter 20 A Castlepollard Statistical Analysis · 2021. 1. 12. · CHAPTER 20 A CASTLEPOLLARD...

CHAPTER 20 A CASTLEPOLLARD STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

1

Chapter 20 A: Castlepollard Statistical Analysis

The statistical analysis provided here is based on the institutional records provided to

the Commission. The Commission compiled a database from the institutional

records and analysed the information on a calendar year basis. In the narrative

chapter, statistical information from other sources is described. These other sources

are not directly comparable with the Commission’s analysis. For example, almost all

the statistical information available from official publications is on an administrative

year basis, that is, from 1 April to 31 March. This was the case until about 1980.

However, as is clear from the analysis below, the statistical returns made to the

Department of Health by the institution are broadly in line with the Commission’s

analysis. Statistics from other reports, for example, inspection reports, often relate to

a specific day or a non-standard period and so are not directly comparable. In

general, the Commission is satisfied that there are no significant differences between

its analysis and information from other sources. In a few cases where there are

differences, attention is drawn to this in the narrative chapter.

Admissions

0

50

100

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250

19

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64

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65

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66

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67

19

68

19

69

19

70

19

71

Castlepollard Total Mothers Admitted per Year


2

The Castlepollard institutional records show that 4,972 women were admitted to the home in

the years 1935-71. Information relating to date of admission was available for 4,961 women

(99.8% of admissions). On opening, Castlepollard had accommodation for 37 women.

However, in its first full year in operation 72 women were admitted. Throughout the 1930s

admissions were routinely double the capacity of the home. In 1940, 132 women were

admitted to the home causing acute overcrowding. Following DLGPH advice, Castlepollard

closed to new admissions for much of 1941; 34 women were admitted that year. Admissions

increased steadily during the remainder of the war years and peaked in 1946 when 194

women were admitted. From 1947 to 1957, 146 women on average were admitted annually.

Admissions began to increase again from 1959 and peaked in 1970, the home’s final year in

operation, when 233 women were admitted.

Analysis by decade shows that most admissions to Castlepollard were recorded in the 1960s

(34.2%) followed by the 1950s (27.8%); 1940s (26.5%); 1930s (6.7%) and the 1970s (4.7%).

332

1317 1381

1697

234

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

Castlepollard Total Mothers Admitted per Decade


3

Private patients accounted for around 10% of admissions to Castlepollard. Most private

patients were admitted between 1948 and 1955. They accounted for one in four of

admissions in 1948 and 1950.

0

50

100

150

200

2501

93

51

93

61

93

71

93

81

93

91

94

01

94

11

94

21

94

31

94

41

94

51

94

61

94

71

94

81

94

91

95

01

95

11

95

21

95

31

95

41

95

51

95

61

95

71

95

81

95

91

96

01

96

11

96

21

96

31

96

41

96

51

96

61

96

71

96

81

96

91

97

01

97

1

Castlepollard Total Mothers Admitted per Year

Public Private


4

Occupancy

Information relating to occupancy was available for 4,846 women (97.3% of admissions).

The institutional records show that occupancy, in relation to the number of admissions, was

relatively high throughout the 1930s and was higher than the number of admissions in 1938.

High occupancy rates generally related to periods where women stayed for longer durations

in the institution and correspond with periods of overcrowding as identified in the historical

records. Increased admissions to the home in 1940 caused acute overcrowding to the extent

that restricted admissions during 1941 did little to reduce the occupancy rate that year.

Occupancy rates increased again in 1943 and remained relatively high until the mid-1950s.

Although admissions began to increase significantly in the 1960s occupancy rates declined

steadily. This mirrored trends in other mother and baby homes and reflected shorter stays

because of the availability of legal adoption.

0

50

100

150

200

250

19

35

19

36

19

37

19

38

19

39

19

40

19

41

19

42

19

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44

19

45

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61

19

62

19

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19

64

19

65

19

66

19

67

19

68

19

69

19

70

19

71

Castlepollard Comparison of Total Mothers Admitted per Year and Average Occupancy

Total Mothers Admitted Average Occupancy


5

Occupancy comparison

A set of annual statistical returns sent by Castlepollard to the Department of Health for the

years 1950-69 inclusive allowed for a comparison of occupancy rates notified by the

Congregation of the Sacred Hearts against occupancy rates independently calculated by the

Commission. Temporary absences from the home, such as cases where women were

temporarily in another hospital, are excluded from the Commission’s calculations and may

inflate the Commission’s numbers slightly. Notwithstanding this, it is clear that the

occupation rates notified by Castlepollard are broadly in line with the Commission’s

calculations.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Castlepollard Occupancy Comparison

MBHCOI Occupancy DoH Occupancy

56

103

112

84

39

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

Average Occupancy per Decade (Mothers)


6

Analysis by decade shows that there was little variation in average occupancy in

Castlepollard in the 1940s and 1950s. A similar number of women were admitted to

Castlepollard in both decades (1,317 in the 1940s and 1,381 in the 1950s) and average

occupancy was 103 and 112 respectively. A significant change, however, can be identified

in the 1960s. Although admissions increased significantly during the decade (1,697 women

were admitted) average occupancy had decreased to 84. Although less admissions were

recorded in the 1940s and 1950s a woman admitted to Castlepollard in that period could

expect to be living with another 106 women on average. Although admissions increased in

the 1960s a woman admitted in that decade could expect to be living with another 83 women

on average.


7

Birth details

Information relating to birth details was available for 4,913 women (98.8% of births and

admissions). The institutional records show that 83% of women admitted to Castlepollard

were admitted pregnant, gave birth and stayed; 7% were admitted pregnant, left before

giving birth and did not return and 10% were admitted to the institution for the first time

accompanied by their baby having given birth elsewhere. Of the women admitted pregnant,

who gave birth and stayed, 92% gave birth in Castlepollard, 6% gave birth in the Coombe

and 2% gave birth elsewhere.

83%

10%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Stayed and gave birth

Admitted with baby

Left before the birth

Castlepollard Mothers Birth Details


8

Length of stay

Information relating to length of stay was available for 4,836 women (97.3% of admissions).

Length of stay was longest for women admitted during 1938.1 Women admitted that year

spent 456 days on average in the home: one woman spent just eight days in the home while

others remained there for over three years. Average length of stay decreased gradually until

1946 but increased significantly for women admitted in 1947. In the period 1947 to 1959

length of stay remained relatively high at 304 days on average. Length of stay decreased

dramatically during the 1960s and for women admitted in 1970, the home’s last full year in

operation, women spent 103 days on average in the home.

Analysis by decade shows that the average length of stay in Castlepollard was highest

during the 1930s. Although the average length of stay decreased somewhat in the 1940s

there was no great reduction until the 1960s. A woman admitted to Castlepollard in the

1960s could expect to spent around half as long in the home as a woman admitted in the

1940s.

1 1935 is discounted here as it was not a full year.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

19

35

19

36

19

37

19

38

19

39

19

40

19

41

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42

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43

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61

19

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19

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19

64

19

65

19

66

19

67

19

68

19

69

19

70

19

71

Castlepollard Mothers Average Length of Stay in Days


9

Comparative analysis of average length of stay between public and private patients shows

that while private patients spent slightly less time in the institution in the 1930s, they spent

significantly less time there from the 1940s through to the 1970s. For instance, in the 1940s

the average stay for a private patient was 40 days; approximately one eight of the 310 days

on average which public patients spent in the home. Although this margin reduced

somewhat in the 1960s and 1970s public patients remained in Castlepollard around three

times longer than their private counterparts in those decades.

359

310 297

126

59

311

40 31

40 22

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

Castlepollard Mother's Average Days Stayed After Birth

Public Private


10

Analysis of length of stay in the institution after giving birth shows that, in the 1930s, 24.4%

of women left Castlepollard within 50 days of giving birth and 53.2% left within six months of

giving birth. However, 24.7% of women, or one in four remained in the home for over 700

days. In the 1940s, 39.3% of women left within 50 days of giving birth and over 60% left

within six months. The number of women who spent over two years in the home had

decreased slightly to 22%. By the 1960s, 37.4% of women had left the home within 50 days

of giving birth and over 83% had left within six months. The number of women who spent

over two years in the home had decreased dramatically to 2.6%. By the 1970s, almost 53%

of women left within 50 days of giving birth and 97% had left within six months. By this time

only a small number of women spent over six months in the home.

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

A: 50 days or less 24.4% 39.3% 40.2% 37.4% 52.8%

B: 51-180 days 28.8% 21.7% 24.8% 45.8% 44.2%

C: 181-365 days 8.7% 8.6% 9.4% 8.9% 2.5%

D: 366-700 days 13.5% 8.4% 5.5% 5.4% 0.5%

F: Over 700 days 24.7% 22.0% 20.1% 2.6% 0.0%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Castlepollard Mother's Length of Stay After Birth (%)


11

Age on admission

Information relating to age on admission was available for 4,936 women (99.3% of

admissions). Age on admission ranged from 12 to 45 years. The average age on admission

was 22 years and the mode of age was 20 years. 79% of women were aged between 18 and

29 years on admission; 8% were 30 years or over and 13% were under 18 years. Around

5.6% of all admissions were aged between 12 and 16 years.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Castlepollard Mothers Age on Admission


12

Address prior to admission

Information relating to address prior to admission was available for 4,929 women (99% of

admissions). The institutional records show that all 32 counties featured as an address prior

to admission. Westmeath was the most cited address and accounted for 11.26% of

admissions. Over 36% of women were recorded as having a previous address in either

Westmeath, Meath, Cavan or Offaly.

11.26%

9.76%

9.09%

6.01%

4.89%

4.65%

4.20%

4.12%

3.96%

3.92%

3.67%

3.53%

3.31%

2.96%

2.90%

2.64%

2.39%

2.37%

2.37%

2.01%

1.93%

1.68%

1.56%

1.24%

1.12%

1.03%

0.55%

0.26%

0.24%

0.18%

0.12%

0.08%

0.00% 2.00% 4.00% 6.00% 8.00% 10.00% 12.00%

Westmeath

Meath

Cavan

Offaly

Mayo

Leitrim

Monaghan

Roscommon

Donegal

Dublin

Tipperary

Cork

Galway

Sligo

Longford

Louth

Limerick

Kildare

Kilkenny

Laois

Wexford

Kerry

Carlow

Clare

Wicklow

Waterford

Down

Tyrone

Armagh

Antrim

Derry

Fermanagh

Castlepollard Mothers Previous Address By County


13

Previous pregnancy

Information relating to previous pregnancies was available for 179 women (3.6% of

admissions). The Commission considered this sample too small to enable it to draw any

conclusions.

Occupations

Information relating to occupation was available for 172 women (3.5% of admissions).

Again, this this sample too small from which to draw any conclusions.

Referral pathways

Information relating to referral pathways was available for 91 women (1.8% of admissions).

The Commission considered this sample too small from which to draw any conclusions.


14

Exit to place

Information relating to exit to place was available for 2,237 women (45% of admissions).

The institutional records show that over 75% of women left Castlepollard and returned to the

family home or other private address; 12.78% left to take up employment; 8.54% transferred

to hospital; 0.89% were placed in employment in a Congregation of the Sacred Hearts run

institution; 0.8% transferred to one of the other institutions under the Commission’s remit;

0.36% were discharged to a convent, nun or priest; 0.36% to a Magdalen Laundry; 0.3%

transferred to private mother and baby homes and small numbers were discharged to social

workers, nurses and doctors. One woman ‘absconded’ without her baby. These exit

pathways altered very little from the 1930s to the 1970s. All transfers to Magdalen

Laundries were recorded between 1936 and 1950.

Annual statistical returns furnished by Castlepollard to the Department of Health for the

years 1951-69 inclusive confirm trends relating to exit pathways established by the

Commission’s analysis of the institutional records. The annual returns show that, in this

period, most women were discharged to the family home (64%) or directly to employment.

1691

286

191

20

18

8

8

7

4

3

1

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Home / Private Address

Situation / Employment

Hospital

Sacred Heart Placement

Scheduled Institution

Convent / Nun / Priest

Magdalen Laundry

Mother and Baby Home (Other)

Social Worker / Health Board

Nurse / Doctor

Absconded

Castlepollard Mothers Exit Pathway


15

In the 1950s, 30% of women were discharged directly to employment; by the 1960s close to

50% of women were discharged via this route. The annual returns also show that 2% of

women left the home to marry in this period and 1% were transferred to unnamed

institutions.

Maternal mortality

Through the institutional records, the Commission identified nine deaths among women

admitted to Castlepollard: representing a mortality rate of 0.18%. All bar one death occurred

in Castlepollard. One death was not associated with pregnancy or childbirth and was due to

tubercular meningitis. Three deaths were indirect obstetric deaths in the sense that they

were conditions that developed during pregnancy, were aggravated by the physiological

effects of pregnancy - all three were notified as syncope. Five deaths were directly

associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Direct obstetric deaths were mainly due to

puerperal septicaemia/sepsis, eclampsia and atrophy of the liver. Adhering to WHO

guidelines the maternal mortality rate in Castlepollard was 0.16%.2

2 Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the

duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. https://www.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/indmaternalmortality/en/

https://www.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/indmaternalmortality/en/


16

Children: Admissions

The institutional records show that 4,559 children were admitted to Castlepollard.

Information relating to date of admission was available for 4,550 children (99.8% of

births/admissions). On opening in 1935, Castlepollard had capacity for 37 women and their

children. However, from 1936-39 almost double that number were admitted each year. In

1940, 109 children were born/admitted to Castlepollard which led to acute overcrowding.

Admissions were restricted during 1941, but increased steadily from 1942 and peaked in

1946 when 186 children were born/admitted. Child births and admissions remained

relatively high in the period 1947-63 when 129 births/admissions on average were recorded

annually. Births and Admissions increased substantially in 1964 and remained high

throughout the 1960s. In 1970, the last full year of Castlepollard’s operation, 214 children

were born in or admitted to the home.

0

50

100

150

200

250

19

35

19

36

19

37

19

38

19

39

19

40

19

41

19

42

19

43

19

44

19

45

19

46

19

47

19

48

19

49

19

50

19

51

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53

19

54

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55

19

56

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57

19

58

19

59

19

60

19

61

19

62

19

63

19

64

19

65

19

66

19

67

19

68

19

69

19

70

19

71

Castlepollard Total Children Admitted per Year


17

Analysis by decade shows that most births/admissions to Castlepollard (34.4%) were

recorded in the 1960s followed by 27.5% in the 1950s and 26% in the 1940s. Numbers

recorded in the years 1935-39 accounted for 7.2% of all births/admissions and 4.9% were

recorded in 1970-71.

Information relating to accompanied/unaccompanied children on entry was available for

4,477 children (98.2% of admissions). The institutional records show that 99.4% were

admitted accompanied by their mother and 0.6% were admitted unaccompanied. Three

children were admitted as accompanying siblings.

328

1184 1251

1565

222

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

Castlepollard Total Children Admitted per Decade

4448

26

3

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000

Admitted with Mother

Admitted Unaccompanied

Sibling Admitted with Mother

Castlepollard Breakdown of Children Admitted


18

Child Occupancy

Information relating to child occupancy in Castlepollard was available for 4,335 children

(95.1% of admissions). From 1935 to 1940 average occupancy increased in line with

increased admissions. In 1941, average occupancy was substantially higher than average

admissions and was most likely caused by the temporary restriction on admissions that year.

However, in the years 1947-50 average occupancy was often higher or on par with average

admissions. As was the case with other mother and baby homes, occupancy rates

decreased in the 1960s as more women were opting for adoption.

0

50

100

150

200

250

19

35

19

36

19

37

19

38

19

39

19

40

19

41

19

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19

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19

59

19

60

19

61

19

62

19

63

19

64

19

65

19

66

19

67

19

68

19

69

19

70

19

71

Castlepollard Comparison of Total Children Admitted per Year and Average Occupancy

Total Children Admitted Average of Occupancy


19

Mother/Child occupancy comparison

Further analysis of occupancy rates in the late 1940s shows that child occupancy rates were

greater than mothers’ occupancy rates from 1946-49. This suggests that, in those years,

more women left Castlepollard without their babies. Conversely, from 1951 to 1970,

mothers’ occupancy rates were substantially greater than child occupancy rates; the

discrepancy was most pronounced in the mid to late 1960s. This suggests that women

remained in Castlepollard for a period after their children had been discharged.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

19

35

19

36

19

37

19

38

19

39

19

40

19

41

19

42

19

43

19

44

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45

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19

49

19

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19

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19

52

19

53

19

54

19

55

19

56

19

57

19

58

19

59

19

60

19

61

19

62

19

63

19

64

19

65

19

66

19

67

19

68

19

69

19

70

19

71

Castlepollard Comparison of Mother and Child Average Occupancy

Childs Average Occupancy Mothers Average Occupancy


20

Analysis of child occupancy by decade shows that a child admitted to Castlepollard in the

1940s could expect to be living with another 98 children on average. Although child

admissions had increased in the 1960s, a child admitted in that decade could expect to be

living with another 56 children on average.

43

99 97

57

30

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

Average Occupancy per Decade (Children)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Occupancy Comparison

MBHCOI Occupancy DoH Occupancy


21

The Commission compared data relating to occupancy derived from institutional records with

annual returns sent by Castlepollard to the Department of Health for the years 1950-69.

Temporary absences from the institution, such as instances where children were being

treated in external hospitals, are not recorded in the Commission’s occupancy numbers. No

date of admission and/or discharge was available for 4.9% of children and these were

excluded from the Commission’s calculations. These factors caused the Commission’s

calculations to fluctuate slightly. Notwithstanding this, the Commission is satisfied that the

occupancy rates forwarded by Castlepollard to the Department of Health were broadly in line

with rates which the Commissions independently arrived at.


22

Children: Length of stay

Information relating to length of stay was available for 4,335 children (95.1% of admissions)

The institutional records show that children stayed in Castlepollard longest in the 1930s

when the average stay was 369 days. This decreased steadily to 353 days in the 1940s;

266 days in the 1950s; to 122 days in the 1960s and to 51 days in the 1970s. Children

admitted to Castlepollard in the 1930s spent three times longer in the home than those

admitted in the 1960s and seven times longer than those admitted in the 1970s.

369 353

266

122

51

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

Child Average Days Stayed by Decade


23

Comparative analysis of public and private patients shows that children born to private

patients experienced significantly shorter stays in Castlepollard than their public

counterparts. In the 1930s, the discrepancy was around 20%. However, in the 1940s and

1950s the discrepancy had increased to around 90%. Although the gap reduced

significantly in the 1960s a public patient still spent around four time longer in the home. The

gap reduced further in 1970, but public patients still spent over twice as long in the home as

their private counterparts.

371 387

301

127

52

304

38 28 34 22

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

Child Average Days Stayed by Decade

Public Private


24

Child discharge relative to mother

Information on child discharge relative to the mother was available for 4,072 children (89.3%

of admissions). The institutional records show that 58.7% of children discharged from

Castlepollard left the home on the same day as their mother; 32.2% were discharged while

their mothers remained in the home and 9.1% were discharged after their mothers had left

the home.

2391

1312

369

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Child Discharged Same Date As Mother

Child Discharged Before Mother

Child Discharged After Mother

Child Discharge relative to Mother


25

Child exit pathways

Information relating to exit pathways was available for 2,892 children (63.43% of

admissions). The institutional records show that legal adoption (49.65%) was the most

frequent exit pathway for children; 23.55% went home with their mother; 9.09% transferred

to another institution; 4.67% were nursed out; 4.05% were boarded out and 1.3% were

informally adopted (pre 1953).

Annual statistical returns furnished by Castlepollard to the Department of Health for the

years 1951-69 inclusive show that the main child exit pathways from Castlepollard during

this period were with the mother, through adoption, placement with an adoption society with

a view to adoption and through local authority boarding out schemes. In 1951 around 1 in 3

children were discharged from Castlepollard with their mothers; by 1969 around 1 in 6 were

discharged in this manner. In 1961 a noticeable increase in the number of children

discharged to the care of an adoption society can be observed. While the statistical returns

record such children under the heading ‘Placed at nurse through a Society’ in these cases

‘at nurse’ refers to temporary foster arrangements while the child awaited placement for

adoption. Similarly, in 1964 there is a discernible increase in the number of children placed

for adoption directly from Castlepollard. By 1969 almost 80% of children discharged from

1436

681

263

135

117

39

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Adoption (post 1952)

With Mother/Family

To Other Institution

Nursed Out

Boarded Out

Informal Adoption (pre 1953)

Castlepollard Exit Pathways (Institutional Records)


26

Castlepollard were adopted directly from the home or through an adoption society. In 1951

around 1 in 5 children were discharged under a local authority boarding out scheme. As

legal adoption became a more frequent exit pathway the number of children placed in

boarding out schemes fell dramatically and by 1969 just two children were discharged from

Castlepollard in this manner. During this period around 3.5% of children were discharged

from Castlepollard to other unidentified institutions. These discharges are likely to relate to

children who were transferred to specialist hospitals, or to the placement of older children in

industrial schools. However, the records show that seven discharges to ‘other institutions’

notified in 1967 and 1968 were transfers to Nazareth Home, Fahan, Co. Donegal.

Foreign adoptions

The institutional and official external records show that 435 children admitted to or

associated with Castlepollard were placed for foreign adoption. The Commission identified

passport office records for 314 of these children. Most foreign adoptions (84.36%) relate to

children adopted in the USA; 8.27% in Great Britain and 6.6% in Northern Ireland. Three

children were adopted in the Philippines, Guernsey and Singapore respectively.

367

36

29

1

1

1

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

USA

United Kingdom

United Kingdom NI

Philippines

Guernsey

Singapore

Castlepollard Foreign Adoptions


27

Child deaths

The Commission established 247 deaths among children associated with Castlepollard.

Information relating to date of death was available for 246 children (99.6% of deaths). The

Commission identified death records relating to 230 children which are held by the GRO.

Most infant and child deaths in Castlepollard (67.5%) were recorded between 1935 and

1947 and peaked in 1940 when 34 deaths were notified. Infant and child mortality was also

high in the years 1944-47; 80 deaths were recorded in that period. The number of deaths

fell from 24 in 1947 to five in 1948, and apart from a slight spike in 1950 (10 deaths were

recorded that year) mortality remained relatively low for the remaining years of the home’s

operation.

Analysis by decade shows that most infant and child deaths (60.2%) were recorded in the

1940s; 21.1% in the 1950s; 11.4% in the 1930s; 6.1% in the 1960s and 1.2% in the 1970s.

The institutional records show that in 93% of cases the child’s mother was resident in

Castlepollard at the time of the child’s death. The remaining 7% died unaccompanied by

their mothers.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

19

35

19

36

19

37

19

38

19

39

19

40

19

41

19

42

19

43

19

44

19

45

19

46

19

47

19

48

19

49

19

50

19

51

19

52

19

53

19

54

19

55

19

56

19

57

19

58

19

59

19

61

19

63

19

65

19

66

19

68

19

69

19

70

Castlepollard Total Child Death per Year


28

Although children born to private patients accounted for around 10% of admissions, they

accounted for just 3.7% of infant and child deaths; 96.3% of deaths occurred among children

born to public patients.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

19

35

19

36

19

37

19

38

19

39

19

40

19

41

19

42

19

43

19

44

19

45

19

46

19

47

19

48

19

49

19

50

19

51

19

52

19

53

19

54

19

55

19

56

19

57

19

58

19

59

19

61

19

63

19

65

19

66

19

68

19

69

19

70

Castlepollard Total Child Deaths per Year (Public v Private Comparison)


29

Place of death

Information relating to place of death was available for 247 infants and children (100% of

deaths). Most deaths (89.5%) occurred in Castlepollard/St Peter’s Hospital; 8.9% occurred

following transfer to other hospitals. One death was recorded in St Kevin’s Hospital, a

county home, a children’s home and a private mother and baby home respectively.

221

22

1

1

1

1

0 50 100 150 200 250

Castlepollard

Other Hospital

St. Kevin's Hospital

Other County Home

Children's Home

Private Mother and Baby Home

Castlepollard Child Deaths Place of Death


30

Age on death

Most deaths (96.15%) occurred among infants as follows: perinatal: 0-7 days (19.23%);

neonatal: 8-28 days (19.23%) and infancy: 29-365 days (57.69%). The remaining 3.85% of

deaths occurred among children aged between one and three years old.

19.23% 19.23%

57.69%

3.85%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

1. Perinatal 2. Neonatal 3. Infant 4. Child

Castlepollard Child Deaths Age on Death


31

Cause of death

Information relating to cause of death was available for 230 children (93.1% of deaths). The

most frequently notified cause of death (26.1%) was congenital debility and prematurity;

22.2% were notified as respiratory infections - mainly bronchopneumonia; 13% as

gastroenteritis and gastritis; 9.1% as whooping cough and one off causes; 6.9% as

congenital heart disease; 6.5% as haemorrhage - mainly cerebral haemorrhage; 5.2% as

malabsorption - mainly marasmus; 3% as influenza; 2.2% as convulsions; 1.7% as

meningitis or encephalitis; 1.7% as spina bifida; 0.9% as generalised infections; 0.9% as

tuberculosis and 0.4% as congenital syphilis.

60

51

30

21

16

15

12

7

5

4

4

2

2

1

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Non-specific

Respiratory Infections

Gastroenteritis

Other

Congenital Heart Disease

Haemorrhage

Malabsorption

Influenza

Convulsions

Meningitis, Encephalitis

Spina Bifida

Generalized infections

Tuberculosis

Syphilis

Castlepollard Child Deaths Cause of Death Cateogry


32

Infant mortality rate3

Infant mortality rates in Castlepollard were by far the lowest recorded across all three homes

run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Infant mortality peaked in

the home in 1940 when a rate of 26% was recorded. This was approximately half the peak

mortality rate recorded in Sean Ross (50%) and approximately one third of the peak infant

mortality rate recorded in Bessborough (75%).

In its first full year in operation, 1936, Castlepollard recorded an infant mortality rate of

17.65%. Unusually for an institution of this type, infant mortality decreased dramatically to

just 1.52% in 1937 and remained relatively low at 6.25% in 1938. In the years 1939-41,

Castlepollard experienced acute overcrowding. Infant mortality increased to 26% in 1940

and remained relatively high at 25.58% in 1941. However, following restrictions on

admission to the home in 1941 and an easing of overcrowded living conditions infant

mortality decreased to 5.56% in 1942. The infant mortality rate remained relatively steady in

the years 1943-47 when an annual average of 12.5% pertained. From 1948 to its closure in

1971, infant mortality rates in Castlepollard remained relatively low; it was above 5% on just

two occasions (6.2% in 1950 and 5.3% in 1951) and remained below 1% most years after

1960.

3 Infant mortality rate is calculated as follows: Living infants born in a given year who died before the age of 1

year as a percentage of all infants born in the same year.

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

1935 1937 1939 1941 1943 1945 1947 1949 1951 1953 1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971

Castlepollard Infant Mortality

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