Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
This page requires JavaScript
33
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
Births.—By the Public Health Act, 1936, all live births and stillbirths
of seven months and over must be notified to the Medical Officer of Health
within 36 hours. The number of live births notified under this Act during
1943 was 1,824 (916 males and 908 females). Of these, 52 (26 males and
26 females) took place in Ilford, the ordinary place of residence of the parents
being outside the district.
In addition. 851 notifications of birth (435 males and 416 females) which
took place outside the district, although the ordinary residence of the parents
is in Ilford, were transferred to this district.
During the year, 16 cases in which there was default in complying
with the requirements of the Act relating to the Notification of Births were
referred to the Town Clerk.
The percentage of live births occurring in Ilford, notified by the various
responsible persons, was as follows:—
By Medical Practitioners 7.51
By Certified Midwives 89.25
By Parents and Others 3.24
In addition. 41 stillbirths (23 males and 18 females) were notified.
The notifications of 26 stillbirths (12 males and 14 females) which took
place outside the district, although the ordinary residence of the parents is in
Ilford, were transferred to this district.
Infant Mortality.—The number of infants dying within the first year
of life was 92, the total number born being 2,621. The latter figure is
supplied by the Registrar-General for calculating infant and maternal
mortality rates. The infant mortality, or rate of deaths per 1,000 live
births, was, therefore, 35.1.
Neonatal Mortality.—The death-rate of infants under four weeks of
age is known as the'Neonatal Mortality. There were 54 deaths of infants
under four weeks of age during 1943 and the rate for the year was 20.6 per
1,000 live births. The deaths of infants under one month increased from
49 during 1942 to 54 during 1943.
The following table gives the deaths of infants under one year of ago,
classified according to age.
Infant Mortality.
Cause of Death | Under 1 week | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3-4 weeks | Total under 4 weeks | 4 weeka and under 3 months | 3 months and under 6 months | 6 months and under 9 months | 9 months and under 12 months | Total Deaths under 1 year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tuberculous | ||||||||||
Meningitis | 1 | i | ||||||||
Bronchitis | — | — | 1 | — | i | — | — | — | — | i |
Pneumonia (all forms) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 24 |
Enteritis | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 2 | 10 |
Convulsions | — | — | _ | 1 | 1 | — | _ | — | — | 1 |
Suffocation (overlying) | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
Injury at birth | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Atelectasis | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Congenital Malformations | 6 | 4 | — | 3 | 13 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 17 |
Premature birth | 17 | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | 17 |
Atrophy, Debility and Marasmus | 1 | 1 | o | 1 | 3 | |||||
Other causes | 5 | — | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 10 |
Totals | 39 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 54 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 92 |