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
Battersea 1925
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1925
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Maternal Deaths in Child-birth (Puerperal Sepsis and other Causes).
| 1921. | 1922. | 1923. | 1924. | 1925. | Mean 1921-5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths from Puerperal Sepsis | 4 | 3 | — | 4 | 3 | 2.8 |
| Deaths from other causes connected with child-birth | 10 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 6.8 |
| Total Maternal Deaths con-nected with Child-birth | 14 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 9.6 |
| Rate per 1,000 births— | ||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | 1.07 | 0.82 | — | 1.27 | 0 .94 | 0.82 |
| Other Maternal deaths | 2.67 | 1.64 | 2.91 | 1.59 | 0.94 | 1.98 |
| Rate per 1,000 all Maternal deaths | 3.74 | 2.46 | 2.91 | 2.86 | 1.88 | 2.80 |
| Rate Der 1.000 population— | ||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | .024 | .018 | _ | .023 | .017 | .016 |
| Other Maternal deaths | .059 | .035 | .059 | .029 | .017 | .040 |
| Rate per 1,000 population all Maternal deaths | .083 | .053 | .059 | .052 | .034 | .056 |
The figures are very encouraging, showing as they do a
decline in maternal mortality since 1921. In view of the attention
which has been drawn in the memorandum by Sir George Newman,
issued by the Ministry of Health in 1919, and by the more recent
report by Dame Janet Campbell to the high rate of maternal mortality
still prevailing, and the necessity for more active steps by
local authorities, the Borough Council has, during the past 5 or 6
years, made special efforts in their Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme, details of which are set out in this section of the Report,
to provide an efficient midwifery service in conjunction with the
other measures which have been carried on in Battersea for many
years. Most of the measures suggested in Sir George Newman's
admirable memorandum have been in operation in the Borough
for the past 5 or 6 years, and include:—
(1) An adequate midwifery and nursing service.
(2) Arrangements for securing the nutrition of the expectant
and nursing mother.
(3) Provision of Maternity Centres and ante-natal supervision.
That these measures have produced the results anticipated,
as shown in the above table, is a satisfactory feature of this year's