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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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13
It is well known that in almost all districts the average age at
death tends to increase. The position of Battersea in this respect
is illustrated by the following figures:—
Average Age at Death, 1928-1938.
| 1928 | 51.5 | 1932 | 55.7 | 1935 | 57.5 |
| 1929 | 53.0 | 1936 | 57.7 | ||
| 1930 | 53.7 | 1933 | 56.8 | 1937 | 57.9 |
| 1931 | 55.3 | 1934 | 55.7 | ||
| 1938 | 58.9 |
The deaths of 871 residents of Battersea aged 65 years and upwards were registered. The distribution of these deaths, which constituted 52.0 per cent. of the deaths at all ages, is set out in the following table:—
| Sub-District. | 65 and under 75. | 75 and under 85. | 85 and upwards. | Total over 65. | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | ||
| North Battersea | 100 | 80 | 71 | 87 | 13 | 43 | 184 | 210 | 394 |
| South Battersea | 94 | 114 | 89 | 113 | 22 | 45 | 205 | 272 | 477 |
| Borough | 194 | 194 | 160 | 200 | 35 | 88 | 389 | 482 | 871 |
The number of deaths and infant deaths registered in each quarter of the year is set out in the following table, in which, for convenience, the corresponding figures for births have also been inserted:—
| Quarter. | Births (live). | Infant Deaths (under 1 year). | All Deaths. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Per cent. of total. | No. | Per cent. of total. | No. | Per cent. of total. | |
| 1 | 567 | 26.82 | 31 | 27.43 | 532 | 31.76 |
| 2 | 520 | 24.60 | 27 | 23.90 | 400 | 23.88 |
| 3 | 541 | 25.59 | 29 | 25.66 | 335 | 20.00 |
| 4 | 486 | 22.99 | 26 | 23.01 | 408 | 24.36 |
| Total | 2,114 | 100.0 | 113 | 100.0 | 1,675 | 100.0 |
The death-rate during 1938 was lowest in the Nine Elms Ward
(10.4), and highest in Broomwood Ward (14.6). Decreased deathrates
were recorded in seven wards of the Borough.
The natural increase of population (that is excess of births
over deaths) was 439, as compared with 294 in 1937.
The causes of the 1,675 deaths occurring in 1938, classified in
various age groups, are shown in the Appendix, pages 134-35.