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43
It is conceivable that the slight reduction in illegitimate births
registered during the current year constitutes the first sign of the
effectiveness of the Abortion and Family Planning Acts of 1967 in
limiting unwanted pregnancies.
Stillbirths
There has been a steady reduction of the stillbirth rate in England
and Wales from the 1930 figure of 41 to the present rate of
13.1.
It is recognised that, to some extent, stillborn babies and those
who die within 7 days of birth reflect the efficiency or otherwise of
the obstetric services but recent studies instituted by the Medical
Research Council, et al, have confirmed that the mother's age,
parity and social class were found also to be significant factors.
Furthermore, improvements in this field were most marked in the
higher social classes.
Only 2 of the 34 Greenwich stillbirths registered during the year
occurred in private dwellings and the calculated rate per 1,000
total births was 10.61, a decrease of 6.56 from that for 1969, and
the lowest in the Borough's history. Greater London returned a
rate of 12.0 while that for Inner London was 12.1.
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 34 stillbirths occurring to Greenwich
residents during 1970 reveals that the major causes arose from
conditions concerning the umbilical cord, accidental and concealed
haemorrhages and placental insufficiency. A full analysis of causes
of stillbirths is given in the following table :—
Abruptio placentae 1
Anencephaly 1
Anoxia—intra uterine 1
Asphyxia—intra uterine 2
Cord—prolapsed 3
round neck 6
Haemorrhage—accidental 5
concealed 2
Of the Borough's 34 stillbirths
illegitimate.
Intra uterine death 3
{cause unknown)
Macerated foetus 2
(cause unknown)
Maternal—polyhydramnios 1
toxaemia 1
trauma 1
Placental insufficiency 4
Pre eclamptic toxaemia 1
(fulminating)
(20 males and 14 females) 4 were