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Recent studies instituted by the Medical Research Council, et al,
have confirmed that the mother's age, parity and social class were
found to be significant factors affecting stillbirths. Furthermore,
improvements in this field were most marked in the higher social
classes.
Registered Greenwich stillbirths numbered 57 (30 males—27
females) which is equivalent to a rate of 17.17 per 1,000 total
births, an increase of 4.12 over that for 1968. Greater London
returned a rate of 12.7 and that for Inner London was 13.4.
All stillbirths must be registered in accordance with the Registration Service Act of 1953 as amended by the Population (Statistics)
Act, 1960, and must be accompanied by a statement as to cause.
An investigation of the 57 stillbirths occurring to Greenwich
residents during 1969 (12 of which were illegitimate) reveals that the
majority of stillbirths resulted from congenital anomalies, placental
insufficiency and haemorrhages. A full analysis of causes of
stillbirths is given in the following table:—
Abruptio placentae 4 Haemorrhage—accidental 2
Anoxia—premature labour 1 ante partum 4
Asphyxia—intra uterine 2 Hypertension 2
prolapsed cord 1 Macerated foetus 3
Atelectasis—total 1 Placental insufficiency 7
Congenital anomaly— Prematurity 1
anencephaly 8 Rh incompatibility 1
other 5 Toxaemia—pre eclamptic 3
Cord pressure 1 Twin pregnancy 2
Diabetes mellitus 1 Umbilical cord—round neck 1
Difficult labour 2 Unknown 5
Fertility
Fertility is a measure of the rate at which a specific community
adds to itself by births. It is not to be confused with population
growth which is the net result of gains from births, losses by
deaths and adjustments in connection with the movements of persons in or out of the area. Nor must too much reliance be placed
upon the crude birth rate which, although a convenient way of
giving the gross rate of increase of a population by births, serves
only as a short-term measurement of the flow of births.