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The Chief Health Visitor of Poplar referring to the infant mortality rate of 79
per thousand births as being half that of eleven years ago. stated that she was still of
the opinion that an improved midwifery service would do more to decrease these rates than
the provision of ante natal clinics.
The Stepney Public Analyst reported that the position with regard to the sale of
whisky and other spirits was unsatisfactory, the law requiring that they should not be
weaker than 35° UP and that 15% of samples taken in England and Wales in 1921 were not
satisfactory. He added that themajority of licensees in Stepney exhibiteda notice stating
that "to meet the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act all spirits are sold as diluted
spirits" and that few persons realised that such a notice would legalise the sale of 1%
whisky 99% water.
According to the report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green a
vendor was sentenced to three months imprisonment in default of paying a fine of £50 for
selling milk which was 76% deficient in milk fat.
LiVE BIRTHS
There were 2,625 live births registered in the borough during the year. After
correction for place of residence (inward transfers 143, outward transfers 789), the
number allocated to the borough was 1,979 comprising 1,019 boys and 960 girls, a decrease
of 255 from 1971, giving a crude birth rate of 12,43 per 1,000 population compared with
13,57 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 in
the population throughout the country, the rate is 13,67 compared with 14.8 (estimated)
for England and Wales, a ratio of 0.92 to the national rate.
ILLEGITIMATE LIVE BIRTHS
The number of illegitimate live births during the year was 288 equivalent to 14,55%
of the total live births, compared with 13.69% last year. The comparable figure for
England and Wales was 9%.
STILLBIRTHS
This year stillbirths numbered 31 equivalent to a rate of 15.42 per 1,000 total
births, compared with 13.68 in 1971. The rate for England and Wales was 12.0.
DEATHS
The number of deaths registered - 2,209, shows an increase of 62 over the figure of
last year. The death rate was 13.87 and when adjusted by the comparability factor
becomes 14.56 as compared with 12.1 for the country as a whole. The largest single cause
of death was heart disease, 28% of total deaths, followed by cancer 25% and respiratory
condi t ions 20%.
The various causesof deaths and distribution by age groups are set out in Table 1.
INFANT MORTALITY
Deaths during the first year of life numbered 52 equivalent to a rate of 26 . 27 per
1,000 live birthsThe rate for the previous year was 24.17 and 20 . 23 forl970. Fluctuations
occur in years in the same decade but generally the downward trend continues: in 1931the
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 forEngland and Wales was 17.0 for 1972.
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