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6
COMMENTS ON VITAL STATISTICS.
No. of Births and Birth Rate.
The number of births (5,284) for 1946 is the highest figure attained since 1931
when the number was almost the same (5,281) but, the population, in that year was
much greater, namely, 324,600. The birth rate 23.26, which is the number of births
per 1,000 resident population, is the highest since 1921.
Illegitimate Births.
8.36 per cent. of the 1946 births were registered as illegitimate. This is lower
than the previous year which was 11.81 per cent but is still considerably higher than
the pre-war figures which averaged 5.08 per cent.
It will be noted that children born illegitimately have a much poorer chance
of survival during their first year than other children, and an increase in the number
of illegitimate infants means an increase in the number of infants born into adverse
physical circumstances.
Deaths.
The death rate has now returned to pre-war proportions and the figure of 12.97
per 1,000 population is the lowest since 1939. 1946 was the first year since 1939
in which there were no deaths due to enemy action and this fall was therefore to be
expected.
Deaths from Puerperal Causes.
The rate of 1.48 (per 1,000 total births) of deaths associated with childbirth is
somewhat higher than last year, which was exceptionally low, but still represents a
very considerable improvement upon the pre-war situation.
Death Rate of Infants under One Year of Age.
The infant mortality rate of 39 per 1,000 live births for 1946 is the lowest in the
history of the Borough. It is slightly lower than the average for the County of
London and for the country as a whole. It speaks well for the care taken by Islington
mothers of their young infants and also for the various hospital, ante-natal and
child welfare services which serve them. It will be noted that if the legitimate
infants only are taken, the rate is still lower, namely, 36 per 1,000 births, but for an
infant born illegitimately the risk is almost twice as great, the rate for these children
being 68.
Special consideration has been given to this problem and the steps taken are
described later in the report.
Of the total number of 207 infant deaths under the age of one year in 1946,
121 occurred in infants under one month. The greater number of these deaths was
associated with premature birth, congenital malformations, and birth injuries. A
reduction of neo-natal deaths due to these causes is the most difficult problem of
infant mortality, and prevention lies principally in concentrating on the care and
health of the expectant mother.
%
Infectious Diseases.
Sickness and fatality rates due to the principal infectious diseases are considered
in more detail in Section F of this report.