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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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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14
Deaths in Public Institutions.
During 1937 the deaths of Battersea residents occurring in
public institutions numbered 1,167. Of this number 827 occurred
within and 340 outside the Borough. Of the total Battersea
deaths in institutions 930 occurred in the general hospitals of the
London County Council.
Infant Mortality.
During 1937 the deaths of 151 infants under 1 year of age were
registered as belonging to Battersea. The total number of live
births registered during the year was 2,144, giving an infant mortality
rate of 70.43 per 1,000 live births, as compared with 59·21
in 1936, 65·11 in 1935. 61·28 in 1934, and 49·49 in 1933.
The distribution of the 151 infant deaths and the infant mortality-rates for the registration sub-districts and the wards are shown in the following table:—
| Area. | Live births. | Deaths of infants under 1 year of age. | Infant mortality per 1,000 live births. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m. | f. | total. | |||
| Sub-District | |||||
| North Battersea | 1,124 | 54 | 36 | 90 | 80·07 |
| South Battersea | 1,020 | 37 | 24 | 61 | 59·80 |
| The Borough | 2,144 | 91 | 60 | 151 | 70·43 |
| Ward. | |||||
| 1. Nine Elms | 343 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 72·89 |
| 2. Park | 257 | 17 | 5 | 22 | 85·60 |
| 3. Latchmere | 269 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 100·37 |
| 4. Shaftesbury | 154 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 90·91 |
| 5. Church | 255 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 62·75 |
| 6. Winstanley | 246 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 85·37 |
| 7. St. John | 143 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 34·97 |
| 8. Bolingbroke | 233 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 55·79 |
| 9. Broomwood | 244 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 32·79 |
The infant mortality rates in the County of London and in
England and Wales during 1937 were 60 and 57 respectively.
It will be noted that in the sub-districts the rate was lower
in South Battersea (59·8) than in North Battersea (80·1). In the
wards, Broomwood showed the lowest rate (32·8) and Latchmere
Ward the highest (100·4).
The infant mortality rate of 70·43 per 1,000 live births is the
highest that has been reached in Battersea since 1921, and although
this rate is one which fluctuates considerably from year to year,
it is difficult to find any simple explanation of the heavy increase
in 1937.