London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Ilford 1953

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]

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47
Care of Premature Infants.— Of the 1,705 live births occurring in
Ilford during 1953, 77 weighed 5½lbs. or less at birth; 18 of these babies
were born on the district (including 2 where the home address of the
parents was outside Ilford) and 59 in Hospital (including 3 where the home
address of the parents was outside Ilford).
Of the 18 babies born at home:—
17 were nursed entirely at home (including 2 where the home
address was outside Ilford);
1 was transferred to hospital.
All survived at the end of one month.
Of the 59 babies born in hospital:—
3 died during the first 24 hours;
2 died between the ages of one day and one month;
54 survived at the end of one month (including 3 where the home
address was outside Ilford).
In addition 43 notifications were received of births outside the district
where the ordinary residence of the parents was in Ilford and the weight of
the infant at birth was 51 lb. or less. Of these there were:—
3 who died within the first 24 hours (all in hospital);
6 who died between the ages of one day and one month (all in
hospital);
34 who survived at the end of one month.
Infant Mortality.—The number of infants dying within the first year
of life was 45, the total number born being 2,231. 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 20.17.

The following table gives the deaths of infants under one year of age. classified according to age:—

Infant Deaths—1953.

Cause of DeathUnder 1 week1—2 weeks2 3 weeks3—4 weeksTotal under 4 weeks1—3 months3—6 months6—9 months9—12 monthsTotal
Atelectasis81--9----9
Broncho-Pneumonia31--411219
Cerebral haemorrhage5---5---5
Congenital abnormalities42--61-119
Erythroblastosis foetalis-1--1---1
Gastro-Enteritis-----1---1
General spasticity-----1---1
Meningitis-----1---1
Microcephaly, Meningocele, Prematurity-1--l----1
Misadventure1---l---1
Prematurity6--6---6
Pulmonary Embolism due to venous infarction of both kidneys--1-1---1
Totals276134513245