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 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Notification of Births.
Notifications were received from:-
| Live Births | Still Births. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwives | 2345 | 44 | 2289 |
| Doctors, Parents & others | 755 | 37 | 792 |
| 3000 | 81 | 3081 |
Maternal Mortality.
There were 5 deaths directly due to pregnancy, compared
with 4 in 1939. The maternal mortality rate was 1.65 per
1,000 births, compared with 1.16 in 1939. In other words
one mother died for every 737 live babies born.
The deaths directly due to pregnancy were caused by:-
(a) Eclampsia.
(b) Operation of removal of placenta for incomplete
abortion, performed under gas, oxygen and ether.
Septicaemia welchii due to natural abortion.
(c) Ante-partum haemorrhage: toxaemia of pregnancy.
(d) Cardiac failur: ileus: Caesarean section for
malpresentation, persistent transverse lie.
(e) Criminal abortion.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
Forty four cases of Puerperal Pyrexia were notified.
This is a rate of 14.5 per 1,000 births (live and still births).
Accommodation for Confinement.
The following Table gives information concerning the accommodation utilized for confinements.
| Number. | Percentage. | |
|---|---|---|
| In private houses. | 1214 | 39.40 |
| In Public Institutions | 1439 | 46.71 |
| Registered Maternity Homes | 428 | 13.89 |
Still Births.
During 1940, 85 still births were registered in respect
of Croydon. Of these 40 were male babies and 45 female;
6 males and 2 females were illegitimate. The proportion
of still births to living children was as 1 to 36. The
still birth rate was 2.8 per cent of the total births.
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