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 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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67
Maternal Mortality.
There were 5 deaths directly due to pregnancy, compared
with 2 in 1943. The maternal mortality rate was 1.36 per 1,000
births, compared with 0.53 in 1943.
The deaths directly due to pregnancy were caused by—
(1) Shock : accidental ante-partum haemorrhage.
(2) Retained placenta: incomplete spontaneous abortion.
(3) Uramia: toxamia of pregnancy.
(4) Eclampsia (post-partum).
(5) Circulatory failure: post-partum shock.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
Forty-eight cases of Puerperal Pyrexia were notified. This
is a rate of 13.0 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 | 1,084 | 30.30 |
| In Public Institutions | 1,756 | 49.09 |
| Registered Maternity Homes | 737 | 20.60 |
| 3,577 |
Still Births.
During 1944, 97 still births were registered in respect of
Croydon. Of these 48 were male babies and 49 female; 6 males
and 5 females were illegitimate. The proportion of still births
to living children was as 1 to 37. The still birth rate was 2.6
per cent, of the total births. The still birth rate, on the same
basis as for Infant Mortality, was 26.4 per 1,000 births.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Three cases were notified during 1944.