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
Greenwich 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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The following table shows these particulars giving the number of marriages in the Borough for each year since 1926 : —
| Year | Churches of England | Marriages in Superintendent - Registrar's Office of parties resident in Greenwich or outside the Registration District, and in Chapels and Roman Catholic Churches | Total | Approximate Population of the districts concerned | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | Charlton and Kidbrooke | St. Nicholas | ||||
| 1926 | ||||||
| 1927 | ||||||
| 1928 | ||||||
| 1929 | ||||||
| 1930 | ||||||
| 1931 | ||||||
| 1932 | ||||||
| 1933 | ||||||
BIRTHS.
The steady fall in the Birth Rate to its present level is most
striking and, by some, is regarded as a national calamity, and by
others as a sign of social decadence. In times of trade depression
and consequent increase in unemployment and poverty, a low Birth
Rate may well be a blessing in disguise; but from whatever aspect
one views this question, one thing is certain and that is the children
who are being born to-day are receiving greater care and attention
than ever before, and not only are being enabled to survive in larger
numbers, but have a greater chance of developing into healthier men
and women.
The total number of births registered in the Borough during
the year was 1,652. Of this number 521 occurred in St. Alfege's
Hospital, 289 in the Borough Maternity Home, and 163 at various
Nursing Homes within the Borough. Of this total of 973 Institution
births, 499 only belonged to Greenwich, the remainder being
transferred to the appropriate localities.
One hundred and fifty-nine births belonging to the Borough
took place in Institutions outside the Borough area, thus the actual
figure for Greenwich becomes 1,337 :—Males, 673; Females, 664.
This figure gives a Birth Rate of 13.73 per 1,000 of the population,
and once again is the lowest on record. The previous year's
Birth Rate was 14.66 and the average for the last ten years 17.09.
The Birth Rate for the County of London equals 13.2 per
1,000 of the population. The Birth Rate for all England and Wales
was 14.4.