London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington and Chelsea 1967

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]

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13
So far as London and some other large centres of population are
concerned, many unmarried pregnant women come in search of the refuge
and anonymity of a crowd.
Kensington and Chelsea has certain local factors in addition. The
highest rate in relation to other London boroughs is partly statistical.
As a result of the amalgamation of metropolitan and outer London
boroughs when London government was reorganised, some boroughs joined
with those of substantially greater or lesser population and/or
illegitimacy rates. In consequence, some had their combined rates
reduced, some had them increased. Kensington and Chelsea, in common
with some other former metropolitan boroughs, derived no statistical
benefit from the amalgamation. Although the smallest and most densely
populated of all the London boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea is one of
the most convenient, accommodating, and attractive boroughs to those
from the provinces or abroad who want a pied a terre from which to join
in the gaiety and attractions of London. For these there exist a large
number of local meeting places - cafes, clubs, coffee bars, cinemas,
discotheques and dance-halls. It is the wealthiest non-commercial
residential London borough, and has one or more of the reputations of
being fashionable, Bohemian, "swinging" and cosmospolitan - overall,
27$ of the population were born outside the United Kingdom, and in one
ward this rises to 38%. So far as accommodation is concerned, the
borough has large numbers of hostels, hotels, lodging houses, clubs,
flats, bedsitters, shared accommodation, and houses in multiple
occupation. As a result of the large numbers of shops, offices,
colleges, hospitals and educational institutes in or adjacent to the
borough, the population includes large numbers of unmarried girls
students, office workers, shop assistants, hotel employees, au pair
girls living away from home, often with scanty means. It also
includes substantial numbers of male visitors and temporary residents
in search of, and able to afford, a gay time.
Nationally, about 80% of all illegitimate births occur to women
below the age of 29, including 34% to those between the ages of 18
and 21, 33% to those between 20 and 24 years, and 17% between 25 and
29 years.
In Kensington and Chelsea, examination of the population age
structure (1961 Census) shows that in round figures 7% of the female
population was aged between 15 and 19 years, 13% between 20 and 24
years. 9% between 25 and 29 years, and 29% between 15 and 29 years.

The comparable figures with some other inner London boroughs are:-

Female Population Approximate Percentage
15-19 years20-24 years25-29 years15-29 years
Kensington and Chelsea713929
Westminster697.523
Camden6.510825
Hammersmith6.586.521
Lambeth67619
London Administrative County68721
England and Wales76619