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
Kensington 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
11
requisite medical and nursing assistance. These are called "above standard" cases and, although
it is difficult to make certain that none is included under this heading in which the attention of a
Woman Health Officer might prove beneficial, they are not generally visited because, in the first
place, the Health Officer may not be welcomed and, in the second place, she can occupy
her time more profitably in visiting homes in the poorer quarters.
In 1923 the "above standard" births numbered 618 and the deaths 22, giving an infantile
mortality rate of 35 6.
The 2,503 births and 196 deaths not " above standard " in 1923 give an infantile mortality
rate of 78.
The causes of death in the "above standard" cases were as follows:—
| Pneumonia and bronchitis | 3 | |
| Enteritis | 3 | |
| Infantile debility | 3 | |
| Premature birth | 7 | |
| Congenital malformation | 1 | |
| Other causes | 5 | |
| The wards to which the children belonged are:— | ||
| St. Charles | 4 | |
| Golborne | 2 | |
| Norland | 1 | |
| Pembridge | 7 | |
| Holland | 3 | |
| Earl's Court | — | |
| Queen's Gate | 1 | |
| Redcliffe | 2 | |
| Brompton | 2 | |
ILLEGITIMATE INFANT DEATHS.
In 1923, 6.6 per cent, of the births in Kensington were illegitimate and 12 per cent, of the
infant deaths were of children of this class.
The following table compares the legitimate and illegitimate births, mtant deaths and inf mortality rates in Kensington for 1923.
| Total. | Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Births | 3,121 | 2,916 | 205 |
| Infant Deaths | 218 | 192 | 26 |
| Rate per 1,000 births | 70 | 66 | 127 |
One infant found dead in regard to whom no particulars of parentage could be obtained
has been classed as legitimate.
The following table compares the total infantile mortality rate for the Borough in recent years with the illegitimate infantile mortality rate:—
| Year | Deaths of all children under 1 year of age per 1,000 births | Deaths of illegitimate children under 1 year of age per 1,000 illegitimate births |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 108 | 292 |
| 1911 | 135 | 302 |
| 1912 | 92 | 357 |
| 1913 | 111 | 344 |
| 1914 | 95 | 272 |
| 1915 | 119 | 346 |
| 1916 | 85 | 211 |
| 1917 | 130 | 408 |
| 1918 | 97 | 256 |
| 1919 | 102 | 180 |
| 1920 | 81 | 201 |
| 1921 | 110 | 217 |
| 1922 | 82 | 135 |
| 1923 | 70 | 127 |