London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Merton and Morden 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
This page requires JavaScript
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Three deaths were recorded as being due to maternal
causes, 1 due to sepsis and 2 to other causes. The Maternal
mortality rate was 2.95 per thousand total births as against
a rate of 2.38 in 1937. The rate for England and Wales was
2.97.
The cause of death in each case was certified to be:—
Sepsis.
(1) Pelvic cellulitis following a tear into the
rectum during forceps delivery of a dead
full term child (first pregnancy). P.M.
Other Causes.
(2) 1(a) Obstetric shock.
1(b) Retained placenta.
(3) 1(a) Heart failure.
1(b) Toxaemia.
1(c) Ilydatidiform Mole. P.M.
TABLE VII.
| Year | Death rate per thousand total births | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sepsis | Other causes | Total | |
| 1924 | — | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| 1925 | — | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 1926 | — | — | — |
| 1927 | — | 2.8 | 2-8 |
| 1928 | — | — | |
| 1929 | 2.2 | — | 2.2 |
| 1930 | — | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| 1931 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 4.7 |
| 1932 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 7.7 |
| 1933 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 4.3 |
| 1934 | 2.5 | 2.5 | |
| 1935 | — | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| 1936 | 2.4 | — | 2.4 |
| 1937 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.4 |
| 1938 | 0.98 | 1.96 | 2.95 |
Maternal deaths occurring within the area are enquired
into personally by the Medical Officer of Health and a confidential
report in each case is forwarded to the Maternal
Mortality Committee of the Ministry of Health in accordance
with the recommendation contained in the Committee's report
on Maternal Mortality.
20