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
Hammersmith 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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13
(e) Maternal Mortality
There were no maternal deaths during the year, as the table shows, a satisfactory
position which has obtained only in two previous years.
| Country | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
| Scotland | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
| Northern Ireland | 32 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
| Australia | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 20 |
| Canada | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 27 |
| Chile | 121 | 113 | 117 | 127 | 120 | 127 |
| Denmark | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| France | 39 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 27 |
| Irish Republic | 37 | 36 | 33 | 35 | 32 | 30 |
| Italy | 49 | 48 | 50 | 48 | 45 | 44 |
| Netherlands | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| New Zealand | 22 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
| Sweden | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| United States of America | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Year | Number of Deaths Pregnancy, childbirth, abortion | Number of live Births | Maternal Death Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1924-1933 | 8 | 2,145 | 3.5 |
| 1934 | 9 | 1,783 | 5.0 |
| 1935 | 2 | 1,877 | 1.1 |
| 1936 | 3 | 1,922 | 1.6 |
| 1937 | 4 | 1,913 | 2.1 |
| 1938 | 2 | 1,874 | 1.1 |
| 1939 | 2 | 1,829 | 1.0 |
| 1940 | — | 1,600 | — |
| 1941 | 2 | 1,405 | l.5† |
| 1942 | 3* | 1,589 | 1.9 |
| 1943 | 3 | 1,768 | 1.6 |
| 1944 | 2 | 1,788 | 1.08 |
| 1945 | 1 | 1,742 | 0.56 |
| 1946 | 7 | 2,310 | 2.94 |
| 1947 | 1 | 2,559 | 0.38 |
| 1948 | 1 | 2,149 | 0.45 |
| 1949 | 2 | 1,971 | 0.99 |
| 1950 | 1 | 1,988 | 0.49 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1,874 | 0.52 |
| 1952 | 2 | 1,777 | 1.10 |
| 1953 | 3 | 1,750 | 1.67 |
| 1954 | 3 | 1,776 | 1.66 |
| 1955 | 2 | 1,707 | 1.14 |
| 1956 | — | 1,810 | — |
| 1957 | 2 | 1,886 | 1.04 |
| 1958 | 2 | 2,027 | 0.96 |
| 1959 | 1 | 2,004 | 0.48 |
| 1960 | 1 | 2,212 | 0.44 |
| 1961 | — | 2,263 | — |
† Rate calculated on a (live and still) birth figure supplied by the Registrar General of 1,289.
* 1 death from puerperal sepsis not counted as "Maternal death".