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births.
III. BIRTHS: NATALITY.
(See Tables I. and II. Appendix.)
The corrected number of births during 1922 was 2,731, equivalent to a rate of 18.79 per 1,000
persons. That total was 128 (4.5 per cent.) less than that of 1921, and the birth.rate 0.84 lower.
For purposes of comparison with earlier years it has been decided to take the figures for the quinquennium,
1909.13, so as to avoid the disturbances due to the war. During that quinquennium the
annual average number of births was 3,008, and the mean birth.rate 21.18 per 1,000 persons, so that
last year's records show a reduction of 9.3 per cent. in the actual number and one of 2.39 in the rate.
The proportions of women at various ages from 15 to 45 years, who were returned as married
at the last Census, were all higher than at the Census of 1911 and at that of 1901. By the use of certain
standards of fertility obtained from Scottish Registration records, it has been calculated that
the birth.rate for 1921 ought to have shown an increase of rather more than 9 per cent. above that
of 1911. The calculated rates for 1911 and 1921 are 31.7 and 34.6 per 1,000 persons, while the
recorded (fully corrected) rates were 20.8 and 19.8. Instead of an increase of 9 per cent., there has
been a decrease of 5—showing a total deficiency equal to 14 per cent. The difference in the actual
fertility can be illustrated in another way. The births recorded during 1911 were equivalent to a rate
of 185 per 1,000 married women, aged from 15 to 45 years, the corresponding rate for 1921 being 161,
or 13 per cent. less. The same rate for 1922 is 154, or 17 per cent. below that for 1911.
The distribution of the births by Wards does not show any notable variations from the annual
averages for 1917.21. On the other hand, comparison of last year's figures with the averages for
1909.13 shows some unexpected changes. The births during the past year in Queen's Park, Harrow
Road and Church Wards were fewer than the corresponding averages for the quinquennium, 1909.13,
the differences varying from 13 per cent. (in Church Ward) to 29 (in Queen's Park). In the other
Wards last year's totals were higher, the increases ranging between a minimum of 2 per cent. (in
Maida Vale) and 56 (in Lancaster Gate, West). The birth.rate was lower last year in four Wards,
viz., Queen's Park, Harrow Road, Maida Vale and Church, the smallest decline (4 per cent.) being
observed in Maida Vale, and the greatest (39) in Queen's Park. The other Wards had higher rates,
the increases varying from 2 per cent. (in Westbourne) to 50 (in Lancaster Gate, West). In the three
last Reports attention has been drawn to the (more than suspected) changing conditions in the two
Lancaster Gate Wards. Ample confirmation of that suspicion is afforded by the comparison of the
birth.rates in 1922 with the mean rates for 1909.13. In the former (West) Ward the rates are: 1922,
10.2; 1909.13, 6.8; and in the latter (East), 9.5 and 7.4 respectively.
Further evidence to the same effect is afforded in the numbers of births transferred from outlying
areas. Approximately 60 per cent. of these transferred births take place in institutions. During
1909.13 such births formed 8.9 per cent. of the corrected total of births in the whole Borough. In
1922 the proportion increased to 16.9. In Lancaster Gate, West, Ward, the inward transfers in
1922 formed 27 per cent. of the births, and in Lancaster Gate, East, 36—a proportion which was
exceeded in Hyde Park Ward only, where it was 50 per cent.
The ratio of births of males to those of females was 1,000: 974 last year, as compared with 1,000:
993 in 1921, 1,000: 968 during 1909.13 and 1,000: 959 during 1915.19.
Illegitimacy.—The 2,731 births recorded last year included 214 of illegitimate children, equal to
7.8 per cent., the same as in 1921. During the years 1909.13 the proportion averaged 5.5 per cent.,
and during 1915.19, 8.9, falling to 7.1 in 1920. In Harrow Road Ward only was the proportion
recorded last year (5.1 per cent.) above the proportions recorded in either of the years 1919.21. The
smallest proportion (4.7 per cent.) was recorded in Queen's Park Ward, in which Ward a minimum
proportion is a constant feature. On the other hand the maximum proportion for the year (14.4 per
cent.) was recorded in Lancaster Gate, West, Ward, in which Ward the proportion is always excessive.
The proportion of males to females among illegitimate births has varied somewhat remarkably. During
1909.13 the proportion was 1,000 : 919, during 1915.19, 1,000 : 939, in 1920, 1,000 : 1,059, in 1921,
1,000 : 1,000, and in 1922, 1,000 : 805.
Births in Institutions.—There is no indication of any reduction in the proportion of women entering
institutions for their confinements. The proportion of births during 1922 which took place in
the various institutions, including nursing homes, rose to 25.6 per cent., having been 25.3 and 19.5
per cent. in 1921 and 1920, while the average for the years 1916.20 was 19.9. Of the legitimate
births recorded last year, 21.6 per cent. occurred in institutions, and of the illegitimate, 54.2. In
1922, 12.5 per cent. of the births took place in Maternity Hospitals and Nursing Homes (11.3 in 1921;
12.8 during 1916.20), 8.2 in General Hospitals (9.6 in 1921, 2.7 during 1916.20) and 4.8 in Poor Law
Institutions (4.3 in 1921, 4.4 during 1916.20).
Multiple Pregnancies.—The 2,371 infants were the result of 2,698 pregnancies, of which 31 were
twin pregnancies, and one triple. The proportion of multiple pregnancies remains fairly constant
from year to year, varying slightly round 1 per cent. Twenty.two (22) of the twin pregnancies were
uni.sexed, both infants being males in 10 instances, and females in 12. The triplets were males 2
and female 1.