London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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by the Registrar-General (under international rule of classification) to pregnancy or
childbirth the last pregnancy occurred in previous years, so that the true maternal
death-rate for 1951 was therefore 0.39. While the downward trend of the total
maternal mortality rate in recent years is unmistakable, it should be noted that owing
to the small number of deaths the laws of chance applicable to small numbers operate,
and the rates for component causes in individual years are liable to considerable
fluctuation without any significance necessarily being attached thereto.
INFANT MORTALITY
MORTALITY PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS
The analysis of maternal deaths in 1951 has therefore been made on the basis of numbers, not rates, and is as follows :—
| Cause of death | Postabortion | Other pregnancy and childbirth | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sepsis | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| Other causes | 5 | 21 | 26 |
| Total maternal deaths | 18 | 24 | 42 |