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
Tottenham 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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82
clinics. Some of the results obtained, after what should be
adequate dosage with iron are disappointing but on close questioning
of these it has been found that the tablets have been taken
erratically or in very inadequate doses. Some women give them up
for weeks at a time or reduce the dose to one a day because of
various unpleasant symptons said to have resulted from them.
Others admit that they often forget them "because they have to be
kept out of reach of the children and are put out of sight".
These readings were all obtained at the first visit and although several of the women had been given iron tablets during a previous pregnancy, only one was actually having them at the time.
| Total | 100% | 90%- 99% | 80%-89% | 70%-79% | 60%- 69% | 50%- 59% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 93 | 1. 1 | 4.3 | 46.2 | 30. 1 | 17,2 | 1.0 |
| 1955 | 99 | - | 6.0 | 37.0 | 42,0 | 11.0 | 2,0 |
| 1956 | 86 | 2.3 | 19.7 | 48.8 | 24.4 | 2.3 | - |
These figures suggest that there may have been a gradual
improvement in Hb levels over the last few years. Thus in 1956
70,8% of those attending for the first time did not require iron
therapy as against 43% in 1955 and 51% in 1954.
There has also been a marked reduction in the number of
readings below 70%
1954 18.2%
1955 13. 0%
1956 2. 3%
and there is an increase in the number of readings over 90%
1954 5.4%
1955 6. 0%
1956 22.0%
If there has been a real improvement in the Hb levels of this
section of the population It is no doubt due to a general improvement
in their nutritional state. It is probable that people have
become used to the high prices of foodstuffs and it is also worth
noting that eggs have been cheaper and more stable in price during
the past eighteen months.