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14
BIRTHS.
The total number of births registered in the Borough during
the year was 1,847. Of this number 640 occurred in St. Alfege's
Hospital, 387 in the Borough Maternity Home, and 169 at various
Nursing Homes within the Borough. Of this total of 1,196 Institution
births, 534 only belonged to Greenwich, the remainder being
transferred to the appropriate localities.
One hundred and forty-four births belonging to the Borough
took place in Institutions outside the Borough area, thus the actual
figure for Greenwich becomes 1,329 :—Males, 696 ; Females, 633.
This figure gives a Birth Rate of 13.7 per 1,000 of the population,
and once again is the lowest on record. The previous year's
Birth Rate was 13.71 and the average for the last ten years 16.40.
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 14.8.
Illegitimate births numbered 48, representing 3.6 per cent of the
total births.
Seventy-one illegitimate births actually were registered in the
Borough. In 32 cases, however, the mothers were ordinarily resident
outside the Borough and these births were consequently allocated to
the correct area. Nine illegitimate births belonging to Greenwich
occurred outside the Borough, thus giving the net figure of 48.
Forty illegitimate births occurred in St. Alfege's Hospital.
Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1926, which
came into operation on the 1st July, 1927, the registration of
still-births became compulsory. Thirty-five such still-births were
registered during the year, representing a percentage of 2.9 of the
total births registered. Each of such cases is separately investigated
with a view to finding out whether what is thought to have been the
cause for such still-birth is of a preventable nature, and if so, an
endeavour is made to take such appropriate action as will guard
against a recurrence of this condition.
Under the provisions of the Notification of Births Act, 1907,
intimations have been received from medical men, parents and others,
with respect to 1,891 births ; 60 were in respect of still-births, of
which number 29 were referred to other Boroughs.