View report page

12
Death Rate.
Total deaths in district 248
Transfers out of district 75
Inward transfers 176
Deaths of residents 349
349 deaths in a population of 50,000 represents a death
rate of 7.0 per 1,000. The death rate for England and Wales
for 1927 was 12.3. The crude death rate is the actual number
of deaths occurring in the district per 1,000 population. For
comparative purposes it is not used] as it is too much affected by
the questions of institutions, e.g., hospitals and sanatoria in
the area. For this area for instance, there is the Dagenham
Sanatorium for West Ham. The deaths occurring at this institution
should not be included in the local returns. Conversely
many deaths occur amongst Dagenham residents in
various institutions outside the area.
The recorded death rate allows for these deaths of nonparishioners
occurring in this area and for the deaths of local
residents occurring outside the district. This death rate gives,
for a stationary population, a rough index for comparison of
one district with another. It is however affected by:—
1. The Sex Distribution of the Population:- At most ages
the death rate for males exceeds that of females. If therefore
the normal distribution of males and females is disturbed
there will be some corresponding alteration in these figures.
2. The Age Distribution:—If for any reason the distribution
of age groups is abnormal this change will be reflected in the
death rate, e.g., if in a given population there is some undue
preponderance of aged people there will be more deaths per
1,000 of the general population; that is, the death rate will be
higher.
The age distribution is subject to the control of two factors;
firstly the rate of increase of population and secondly the mode
of such increase. If the birth rate exceeds the death rale it
means a preponderance of distribution in the lower age groups,
i.e., at those age groups which have the lowest death rate.
In such a case therefore the death rate would be lower than
the average. Similarly the immigration of children and young
adults would have a like effect.
In stable communities these alterations in age and sex distribution
can be allowed for by means of a Correction Factor and
the Corrected Death Rate can be obtained. This figure is used
as the index of healthiness for comparison of one district with
another. To obtain this however for the area, would require