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11
The births occurring in the Chelsea Workhouse, and the births
occurring in outlying institutions have been distributed amongst the
various wards. As in 1907, Stanley Ward had the highest birth-rate.
From Table XVII. (Local Government Board Table V.) it will be
seen that out of the total of 166 deaths of infants, under 1 year of age,
in Chelsea in 1908, 52, or 33 8 per cent., occurred in the first 4 weeks of
life, as compared with 64, or 35.2 per cent. of the total, in 1907; and 35,
or 21.1 per cent., occurred in the first week of life, as against 32, or 17.6
per cent. of the total in 1907. The majority of these deaths in the first
month of life are due to premature birth of the infants, developmental
defects, and injuries at birth. For deaths under a month the rate, in
1908, is 31 per 1,000 births, as against 43 per 1,000 in 1907.
Between the ages of 1 month and 12 months, 114 deaths, 68.7
per cent. of the total, were registered in 1908, as compared with 118
deaths, 64.8 per cent. of the total, in 1907; 36 of these deaths being due
to diarrhoeal diseases, as compared with 29 in 1907. There were, besides,
4 deaths from measles, 2 from diphtheria, 11 from whooping cough, 22
from bronchitis, 7 from pneumonia, 6 from convulsions, and 4 from
overlaying amonst infants under one year of age.
As compared with 1907 the greatest saving of infant life in 1908
was of infants between 1 and 4 weeks of age, 32 deaths being recorded
in this period in 1907, as against 17 only in 1908.
Illegitimate Births.—The following Table shows, for each of the
years 1905—1908, the number of illegitimate births belonging to the
Borough, the number known to be alive at the end of each year, the
number known to be dead, and the number unaccounted for.
Table XII.—Borough of Chelsea.
Year.
Illegitimate Births.
Number.
Per cent. of
total births.
Alive at end
of year.
Dead at end
of year.
Unaccounted
for.
Deaths
under 1 to
1,000 births.
1905
88
5.5
19
10
59
114
1906
73
4.8
21
7
45
96
1907
76
5.2
28
9
39
118
1908
96
6.2
37
11
48
115
The infantile mortality rates in the above Table are evidently
minimum rates, owing to the considerable numbers each year unaccounted
for by change of residence, or other cause. Assuming that the
illegitimate babies unaccounted for died at the same rate as those
accounted for, then the average infantile motality rate of the illegitimate
children born in the 4 years 1905—8, is 261 per 1,000, as compared with
122 per 1,000 for all infants, legitimate and illegitimate. About 50
per cent. of the illegitimate births each year take place in the Chelsea
Workhouse.