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135
Size and
structure of
the sample
The actual number of cases investigated was 20,361, which involved 61,846
rooms and 88,956 persons. The types of property are shown in Table VIII. The scope
of the sample was limited in that the Health Visitors call mainly upon families
with:—
1. Expectant mothers. 4. Infants under five.
2. Premature babies. 5. Infectious diseases.
3. Still.births.
Consequently, the results of the Survey may show the average Family Accommodation
Rates to be somewhat higher than would be expected if the sample were
drawn from the total population of the County, as for the most part it does not
include childless couples, single occupants or old people nor does it cover families
with children all over 5 years of age. These observations should be read in
conjunction with the extracts on page 3 from the one per cent, sample tables of the
1951 Census.
More than 90 per cent, of families with infants under one year are visited by
the Health Visitors. Visits to these families are maintained until the infant attains
age 5 and all the families included in the Survey would have been visited within the
last 12 months and most of them more recently. The information was, therefore,
representative and up.to.date. Table I compares the percentage distribution of
family houses and purpose.built flats of different sizes as revealed by the sample
with the actual distribution of dwellings belonging to the Council on 31st March,
1949. This comparison indicates how close were the sample results to the actual
conditions, subject to limitations already stated.

The Survey revealed information concerning the distribution of various types of
dwellings. Only 15 per cent, of the total are family houses and 24 per cent, purpose.
built, flats
Survey
analysis—
distribution
of type of
dwellings