London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1902
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1903
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TABLE I. Birth-rate per 1,000 Population.
| Year. | The Borough. | East Battersea. | North-West Battersea. | South-West Battersea. | London. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | 33.3 | 34.7 | 38.6 | 23.7 | 30.9 |
| 1894 | 31.4 | 32.6 | 36.6 | 23.2 | 30.2 |
| 1895 | 32.3 | 34.3 | 37.9 | 22.2 | 30.6 |
| 1896 | 32.4 | 34.8 | 37.8 | 22.2 | 30.2 |
| 1897 | 31.7 | 33.8 | 36.6 | 22.7 | 30.2 |
| 1898 | 30.9 | 33.6 | 35.0 | 21.9 | 29.7 |
| 1899 | 30.9 | 33.6 | 36.0 | 21.0 | 29.6 |
| 1900 | 30.6 | 33.5 | 35.2 | 21.3 | 29.2 |
| 1901 | 29.7 | 32.6 | 33.3 | 21.3 | 29.0 |
| 1902 | 28.2 | 30.3 | 33.1 | 20.2 | 29.0 |
| Average 1893-1902 | 31.1 | 33.3 | 36.0 | 21.9 | 29.8 |
| 1903 | 28.6 | 31.3 | 34.1 | 19.4 | 28.4 |
The birth-rate varies greatly in the three sub-districts,
being lowest in South-West Battersea, where the standard of
comfort is highest, and highest in North-West Battersea, the
district in which there is the greatest poverty. The decline
in the birth-rate during the decennium is marked in all threi;
districts, although the rate in 1903 was slightly above that in
1902. In South-West Battersea the rate last year was very
low.
The phenomenon of a declining birth-rate is, however, not
peculiar to Battersea, as is shown by the following table : —