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16
BIRTHS.
The total number of births registered in the Borough during
the year was 1,881. Of this number 860 occurred in St. Alfege's
Hospital, 337 in the Borough Maternity Home, and 216 at various
Nursing Homes within the Borough. Of this total of 1,413
Institution births, 637 only belonged to Greenwich, the remainder
being transferred to the appropriate localities.
One hundred and ninety-eight births belonging to the Borough
took place in Institutions outside the Borough area ; thus the
actual figure for Greenwich becomes 1,303 : Males 662 ; Females
641.
This figure gives a Birth Rate of 13.64 per 1,000 of the population,
and is a fractio n below the previous year's Birth Rate of
13.86. This is the lowest rate ever recorded. The average for the
last ten years is 14.6.
The Birth Rate for the County of London equals 13.4 per
1,000 of the population. The Birth Rate for all England and Wales
was 15.1.
Illegitimate live-births numbered 50 representing 3.8 per cent,
of the total live births.
Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1926, the
registration of still-births became compulsory. Forty still-births
were allocated to the Borough, 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 the cause is of a
preventable nature, and if so, an endeavour is made to take such
appropriate action as will guard against a recurrence.
Under the provisions of the Notification of Births Act, 1907
(now Section 255 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936), intimations
have been received from medical men, parents and others,
with respect to 1927 births, but after adjustments for transfers
this figure was reduced to 1,336. Thirty-eight of these were in
respect of still-births.