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14
Deaths in Public Institutions.
During 1938 the deaths of Battersea residents occurring in
hospitals or institutions numbered 1,076. Of this number 751
occurred within and 325 outside the Borough. Of the total Battersea
deaths in institutions 798 occurred in the general hospitals of
the London County Council.
INFANT MORTALITY.
During 1938 the deaths of 113 infants under 1 year of age were
registered as belonging to Battersea. The total number of live
births registered during the year was 2,114, giving an infant mortality
rate of 53.45 per 1,000 live births, as compared with 70.43
in 1937, 59.21 in 1936, 65.11 in 1935, and 61.28 in 1934.
The infant mortality rates in the County of London and in
England and Wales during 1938 were 56 and 53 respectively.
The distribution of the 113 infant deaths and the infant
mortality-rates for the registration sub-districts and the wards,
are shown in the table on page 9.
It will be noted that in the sub-districts the rate was, as is
usual, lower in South Battersea (52.4) than in North Battersea
(54.6). In the wards, St. John showed the lowest rate (18.6) and
Winstanley Ward the highest (81-8).
The year shows a welcome reduction in the infant mortality
rate, which in 1937 soared to a height it had not reached for some
years previously. The rate for 1938 is in fact well below the
average for the past decade, and taking 1937 and 1938 together
the rate is only 62 per 1,000 births.
Reference to the chart on page 20 will show that the fall in the
infant mortality rate, which was so spectacular in the early years
of this century, has not continued at such speed since the war.
But if the twenty years which have passed since then be divided
into two decades it will be seen that the reduction still continues.
The table following enables the variations in the different wards
of the borough to be compared.