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
Merton and Morden 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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MATERNAL MORTALITY.
One death only occurred in the year from maternal causes.
The maternal mortality rate was 0.85 and reference to the
appended Table will show this is the lowest recorded for the
past two decades. While this is eminently satisfactory it will
be appreciated that with small numbers such as local statistics
provide, a single unfortunate death can convert the maternal
mortality for that particular year from a satisfactory level to
an abnormally high level. Hence it is essential for comparison
to examine the figures over a period of years. Such scrutiny
none the less reveals a very satisfactory rate for the district.
In the single death which occurred, actually not in the
district, a post mortem examination was done and the cause
of death was certified by the Coroner to be:—
Hæmorrhage from Placenta Prævia and
Multiple fibroids of uterus.
TABLE V.
| 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 | — |
| 928 | — | — | — |
| 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 | 5.0 |
| 1935 | — | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| 1936 | 2.4 | — | 2.4 |
| 1937 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.4 |
| 1938 | 0.98 | 1.96 | 2.95 |
| 1939 | — | 3.93 | 3.93 |
| 1940 | 1.04 | — | 1.04 |
| 1941 | — | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 1942 | 0.93 | 1.87 | 2.80 |
| 1943 | 0.85 | - | 0.85 |
Maternal deaths occurring within the area are enquired
into personally by the Medical Officer of Health and a
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