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
Croydon 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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170
Among the 161 deaths, 101 occurred in boy babies and 60 in
girls. Of the births 1,677 were males and 1,634 females. The
infantile mortality rate for the two sexes was, therefore: Boys, 61;
girls, 37.
The rate of infant mortality amongst illegitimate children was
112 per 1,000. The rate in legitimate children was 45 per 1,000.
The following table gives the causes of death during the first two months of life:—
| I. Complications of Labour— | ||
| 2 | ||
| 5 | ||
| II. Foetal States— | ||
| 8 | ||
| — | ||
| III. Prematurity | ||
| — | ||
| IV. Post-Natal Causes | ||
| — | ||
The rate of infantile mortality for England and Wales in 1932
was 65, and for the 107 large towns 69. The rate for Croydon is
therefore considerably lower than the average rate. An analysis of
Table LXXXIII shows that of the total infant deaths, 21.7%
occurred on the first day of life and 50.9% before the completion of
the first month and it is probable that these deaths were due to
causes operating before birth except in so far as accidents of birth
(5) are concerned.. It is interesting to note this percentage is very
constant throughout England and Wales and does not vary to any
great degree with variations in districts.