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

Hampstead 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]

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Table: Births at home—Housing Conditions. Information has been recorded, wherever possible, of the housing conditions of families in which a birth occurred at home. The following table shows an analysis of 172 instances where these births were visited, and where the information was obtainable:—

Births at home—Housing Conditions. Information has been recorded, wherever possible, of the housing conditions of families in which a birth occurred at home. The following table shows an analysis of 172 instances where these births were visited, and where the information was obtainable:—

No. of persons in family.No. of families occupying the following number of rooms.
1 room.2 rooms.3 rooms.4 rooms.5 rooms.
l-----
2113307-
312532142
4-6134-
5-4103-
6--4--
7--11-
8----1
9-----
Totals24890293

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The newly-born baby has not been included in the above.
Of these 172 births: —
1 per cent. occurred in 1-roomed tenements.
28 „ „ 2 „
52 „ „ 3 „
The table indicates the limited housing conditions in some of the
dwellings where babies are born at home. It demonstrates that of
these 172 babies, 2 were born in one-roomed tenements and 48 in tworoomed
tenements. In 1 one-roomed tenement where 3 persons were
already living, a baby was born. With regard to two-roomed homes,
in 4 instances, 5 persons were already inhabiting the rooms prior to
the birth of the baby, in 6 cases the baby's advent raised the number
of occupants to 5.
Notification of removal of children from the Borough.
It is our practice to notify the appropriate District whenever a
family in which there are young children removes from the Borough.