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
Dagenham 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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82
The final column shows for the age-groups 0/1 and 1/4 a
slight excess. A larger excess occurs in group 5/9. This, however,
is based on a very small total, and, actually, this exccss is accounted
for by a number of deaths from diphtheria occurring at those ages.
Group 10/14 shows a slight deficiency.
Groups 15/19 and 20/24 show a very marked deficiency,
the total proportion being only 33% of the theoretical number.
Group 45/49 shows a 50% deficiency, while the group over 50 is
only one-tenth that of the standardised population.
A marked deviation might be due to one of two factors :—
1.—Local conditions particularly affecting the death-rates
in special age-groups.
2.—The population at risk in any age-group differing widely
from the normal proportion.
To rule out the first suggestion, the death-rates occurring amongst the residents of the original habitations in the district are considered. The following table shows the number of deaths occurring in this population in each age-group for the two years 1927 and 1928:—
| Age-group. | 1027. | 1928. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number dying at each age-group. | England & Wales, Percentage. | Number dying at each age-group. | England & Wales, Percentage. | |
| 0/1 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 | 9.3 |
| 1/4 | 5 | 5.0 | 4 | 4.3 |
| 5/9 | 2 | 1.6 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 10/14 | 1 | 1.1 | 1 | 1. 1 |
| 15/19 | - | 1.8 | 2 | 1.9 |
| 20/24 | 2 | 2 .2 | 3 | 2.3 |
| 25/84 | 3 | 4 .4 | 3 | 4.6 |
| 35/44 | 4 | 6.3 | 3 | 6.1 |
| 43/49 | 4 | 4 .5 | 7 | 4.4 |
| Over 50 | 60 | 63.6 | 65 | 64. 1 |
| Total | 91 | — | 99 | — |
In 1927, when the death rate for the country was 12.3, 91
deaths would have occurred in a population of 7,400. In 1928
with a death rate of 11 .7, the 99 deaths would have occurred in a
population of 8,400. These figures agree sufficiently with the
fart that at the last census in 1921 the population was 9,127.
Since that date, it will steadily have declined.