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LIVE BIRTHS
There were 5,164 live births registered in the borough during the year. After correction
for place of residence (inward transfers 163 outward transfers 2,065), the number allocated to
the borough was 3,262 comprising 1,635 boys and 1,627 girls, a decrease of 441 from 1966,
giving a crude birth rate of 16.45 per 1,000 population compared with 18.28 last year. When
adjusted by the Registrar-General's area comparability factor for the borough, which makes
allowances for differences in the age and sex distribution of the population throughout the
country, the rate is 15.3 compared with 17.2 for England and Wales, a ratio of 0.89 to the
national rate. The crude rate for Inner London is 17.7.
ILLEGITIMATE LIVE BIRTHS
The number of illegitimate live births during the year was 441 equivalent to 13.52% of
the total live births, compared with 11.64% last year. The comparable figure for Inner London
was 15.3%.
STILLBIRTHS
This year stillbirths numbered 55 equivalent to a rate of 16.58 per 1,000 total births
compared with 16,73 in 1966. The rate for England and Wales was 14.8, and for Inner London
13.5.
DEATHS
The number of deaths registered - 2,130, shows a decrease of 115 from the figure of last
year. The death rate was 10.74 and when adjusted by the comparability factor becomes 12.35 as
compared with 11.2 for the country as a whole. The crude death rate for Inner London is 11.0.
The largest single cause of death was heart disease - 29% of total deaths, followed by cancer
25% and respiratory conditions 15%. Last year cancer accounted for 21% of deaths.
The various causes of death and distribution by age groups are set out in Table I, on
page 91,
INFANT MORTALITY
Deaths during the first year of life numbered 56 equivalent to a rate of 17.16 per 1,000
live births. The rate for the previous year was 16.74 and 19,65 for 1965. Minor fluctuations
occur in years in the same decade but generally the downward trend continues: in 1931 the
comparable rate for the area was 77 per 1,000 live births and in 1921 almost 1 in 10 babies
died before their first birthday. The rate (provisional) for England and Wales was 18.3 for
1967 and for Inner London 19.8. Details of causes of death at various ages under 1 year will
be found in the Appendix on page 92.
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