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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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43
Maternal Mortality.
During 1930 there were 10 deaths of women from diseases or
accidents of child-birth which is equivalent to a fatality rate of
3-77 per 1,000 births.
Six of these deaths occurred in hospital and four at home. The causes of death were certified as being :—
| Puerperal sepsis | 4 |
| Post-partum Haemorrhage | 2 |
| Embolism and Thrombosis | 2 |
| Eclampsia | 1 |
| Laceration of Uterus | 1 |
Maternal Deaths in Child-birth (Puerperal Sepsis and other Causes).
| 1925. | 1926. | 1927. | 1928. | 1929. | Mean 1925-9 | 1930. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths from Puerperal Sepsis Deaths from other causes connected with child-birth | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2.4 | 4 |
| 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4.4 | 6 | |
| Total Maternal Deaths connected with child-birth | 6 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6.8 | 10 |
| Rate per 1.000 births— | |||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | 0.94 | 1.01 | •36 | 1.09 | 0.76 | 0.83 | 1.51 |
| Other Maternal deaths | 0.94 | 2.36 | 1.78 | 1.46 | 1.15 | 1.54 | 2.26 |
| Rate per 1,000 births all Maternal deaths in child-birth | 1 .88 | 3.37 | 2.14 | 2.55 | 1.91 | 2.37 | 3.77 |
| Rate per 1.000 population— | |||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | .017 | .017 | .006 | .018 | .012 | .014 | .025 |
| Other Maternal deaths | .017 | .041 | .030 | .024 | .019 | .026 | .037 |
| Rate per 1,000 population all Maternal deaths in childbirth | .034 | .058 | .036 | .042 | .031 | .040 | .062 |
It will be noted that there has been an increase in the Maternal
Mortality Rate in Battersea during 1930, as compared with previous
years. The causes of these maternal deaths are set out above.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee have taken steps
to see that the views expressed by the Ministry of Health in their
circular letters with regard to the maternal mortality so far as
Battersea is concerned, are being complied with.
In addition to the measures already in force to deal with the
question the Maternity Hospital has been recently equipped with
a modern, out-patients' department with extended accommodation.
The extension of the hospital was opened early in 1930.