Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the vital statistics and the work of the Public Health Department for the years 1914-18 (inclusive)
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mortality in childhood. 25
Examining the figures in Table 15 it will be seen that the mortality rates recorded
during the five years ranged from a maximum of 264 per 1,000 births (Clarendon Street,
1918) to a minimum of 60 (Queen's Park." 1918). Of the six areas "Clarendon Street"
shows the worst record (rather more than one-fifth —209 per 1,000—of the children born
during the five years dying at ages under one year) and Queen's Park, the best (not onetenth—97
per 1,000—dying at those ages). The last line of the Table mentioned shows
what the total mortality rate would be if the high mortality generally experienced in the
special areas were reduced to that of the rest of the Borough.
The excessive mortality in these special areas is due to measles, whooping cough,
"diarrhœa," tuberculosis and the respiratory diseases—the rates from which are almost
always notably higher in the areas than in the rest of the Borough. On the other hand the
rates due to "developmental diseases" (premature birth, congenital defects, &c.) are
frequently lower in the areas than in the rest of the Borough. One result of the foregoing
facts is that the mortality rates at ages under one month are frequently notably lower in the
areas than in the rest of the Borough, the reverse being found at higher ages. (See below).
Infantile Mortality.
Ages at Death. | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S.A. | R.B. | S.A. | R.B. | S.A. | R.B | S.A. | R.B. | S.A. | R.B. | |
Under 1 month | 29 | 36 | 30 | 31 | 20 | 39 | 41 | 44 | 21 | 52 |
1-3 months | 27 | 16 | 35 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 34 | 27 | 17 | 17 |
Under 3 months | 57 | 51 | 65 | 54 | 51 | 59 | 75 | 70 | 38 | 69 |
3-6 months | 38 | 12 | 31 | 12 | 35 | 7 | 20 | 19 | 40 | 16 |
6-9 „ | 10 | 8 | 29 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 34 | 11 | 35 | 14 |
9-12 „ | 27 | 7 | 35 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 45 | 10 | 14 | 12 |
" S.A."—Combined Special Areas. " R.B."—Rest of Borough. |
Illegitimates.—Of 1,016 illegitimate children born during 1914-18,263 died within the
first year of life—equivalent to a mortalitv of 258 per 1,000 births, as compared with 96
among legitimate children. During 1909-13 the mortality was at the rate of 266 per 1,000
among illegitimate children and 96 among legitimate. There was, therefore, a reduction of
some 3 per cent. in the mortality of illegitimate children, but none among the legitimate.
The subjoined figures sufficiently emphasise the differences in the incidence of mortality on
the two sexes. (See below.)
Infantile Mortality.
Males. | Females. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Legit. | Illegit. | Legit. | Illegit. | |
1909-13 | 108 | 269 | 84 | 263 |
1914-18 | 106 | 276 | 85 | 241 |
TABLE 15. Infantile Mortality per 1,000 Births.
1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whole Borough | 90 | 117 | 94 | 136 | 116 | |
Special Areas | "Hall Park " | 100 | 71 | 88 | 129 | 65 |
"North Wharf " | 90 | 104 | 91 | 175 | 76 | |
"Clarendon Street " | 187 | 238 | 143 | 252 | 264 | |
"Alfred Road " | 117 | 176 | 145 | 170 | 96 | |
"Amberlev Road " | 134 | 181 | 99 | 138 | 140 | |
"Queen's Park " | 70 | 115 | • 81 | 150 | 60 | |
Combined Areas | 132 | 160 | 110 | 175 | 128 | |
Rest of Borough | 78 | 97 | 87 | 111 | 112 |
Children Aged 1-5 Years.—By a method of tabulating annually the survivors at ages 1-4 years, the following mean mortalities have been obtained :— Mortality per 1,000: Both Sexes.
Ages at Death | 1-2 | 2-3 | 3-4 | 4-5 years. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1909-13 | 31.5 | 11.9 | 0.4 | 5.8 |
1914-18 | 35.2 | 14.4 | 10.9 | 6.2 |
It is clear that the mortality was higher in the latter period. Taking the rates for each age
during 1909-13 as 100, the following Index Numbers are obtained for 1914-18: —
1-2 112; 2-3 121; 3-4 170; 4-5 107
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