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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough.
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33
Maternal Mortality.
During 1929, there were 5 deaths of women from diseases or
accidents of child-birth which is equivalent to a fatality rate of
1-91 per 1,000 births.
Four of these deaths occurred in St. James's Hospital and 1
in Clapham Maternity Hospital, Jeffreys Road. The causes of
death were certified as being :—
Puerperal sepsis 2
Placenta Prsevia 1
Ruptured ectopic gestation 2
Maternal Deaths in Child-birth (Puerperal Sepsis and other Causes).
| 1924. | 1925. | 1926. | 1927. | 1928. | Mean 1924 8 | 1929. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths from Puerperal Sepsis Deaths from other causes | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2-8 | 2 |
| connected with child-birth | 5 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4-8 | 3 |
| Total Maternal Deaths con-nected with child-birth | 9 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7-6 | 5 |
| Rate per 1,000 births— | |||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | 1.27 | 0.94 | 1.01 | .36 | 1.09 | 0.93 | 0.76 |
| Other Maternal deaths | 1.59 | 0.94 | 2.36 | 1.78 | 1.46 | 1.63 | 1.15 |
| Rate per 1,000 births all Ma-ternal deaths in child-birth | 2.86 | 1.88 | 3.37 | 2.14 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 1.91 |
| Rate per 1,000 population— | |||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | .023 | .017 | .017 | .006 | .018 | .016 | 0.012 |
| Other Maternal deaths | .029 | .017 | .041 | .030 | .024 | .028 | 0.019 |
| Rate per 1,000 population all Maternal deaths in child-birth | .052 | .034 | .058 | .036 | .042 | .044 | 0.031 |
It is satisfactory to note that the decline in Maternal Mortality
which is in evidence during recent years in Battersea was maintained
during the year under report. The Ministry of Health, in their
circular letters Nos. 517 and 888, drew the attention of the Sanitary
Authorities to the unsatisfactory condition with regard to Maternal
Mortality in contrast with the great decline which has taken place
in Infantile Mortality.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee have taken steps
to see that the views expressed by the Ministry of Health so far as
Battersea is concerned, are being complied with.
In addition to the measures already in force to deal with the
question of Maternal Mortality, the Maternity Hospital has been
recently extended so as to provide a modern, fully equipped outpatients'
department with extended accommodation. The extension
of the hospital was in progress at the end of 1929.