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 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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26
Little variation in the pattern of death registrations occurred
during the year, the first and fourth quarters producing 29.8% and
27.4% respectively, and the third quarter 20.6%.
It will be observed from the following table that during 1961
the deaths occurring at 65 years and upwards accounted for 68.3%
of the total compared with a figure of 22.8% for 1901.
Deaths in the age group 0-5 years show an even more striking comparison; in 1901 the deaths in this group amounted to 37.4% whilst the figure for the current year is 3.4%.
| Age Group | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1951 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year of age | 362 | 306 | 175 | 97 | 29 | 30 |
| Between 1 and 5 years | 187 | 158 | 80 | 39 | 7 | 2 |
| Between 5 and 15 years | 64 | 67 | 58 | 22 | 10 | 4 |
| Between 15 and 25 years | 66 | 60 | 67 | 65 | 12 | 8 |
| Between 25 and 65 years | 454 | 474 | 466 | 382 | 311 | 252 |
| 65 years and over | 335 | 356 | 387 | 529 | 633 | 631 |
| Totals | 1,468 | 1,421 | 1,243 | 1,134 | 1,002 | 927 |
MATERNAL MORTALITY
One death from puerperal causes was recorded during the
current year, a position similar to that obtaining in 1960. giving a
Maternal Death Rate of 0.75.
This registered maternal death was in respect of a girl of 17
years who died from an air embolism due to insufflation of the
uterus. The Coroner's verdict at the inquest was recorded as "selfinduced
abortion."
INFANTILE MORTALITY
Fifty years ago infant mortality in Greenwich was at the rate
of 108 per 1,000 live births, the actual number of children dying
before reaching the age of one year being 261. Comparable figures
for the current year are 23.11 and 30 respectively.