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
Barking 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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The following table gives you similar information for the last fourteen years:— Maternal Mortality—Statistics.
| Year. | Barking. | England and Wales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths from | Rate per 1,000 births. | Rate per 1,000 births. | ||
| Puerperal Sepsis. | Other Puerperal Causes. | |||
| 1924 | 1 | 2 | 3.66 | *3.90 |
| 1925 | — | 1 | 1.21 | *4.08 |
| 1926 | — | 1 | 1.22 | *4.12 |
| 1927 | 2 | 1 | 4.23 | *4.11 |
| 1928 | — | 2 | 2.48 | 4.25 |
| 1929 | — | 2 | 2.54 | 4.16 |
| 1930 | — | 3 | 3.72 | 4.22 |
| 1931 | 1 | 3 | 4.08 | 3.95 |
| 1932 | — | 1 | 0.88 | 4.06 |
| 1933 | 4 | — | 3.2 | 4.23 |
| 1934 | 1 | 4 | 3.82 | 4.41 |
| 1935 | 3 | 1 | 3.18 | 3.93 |
| 1936 | 1 | 2 | 2.44 | 3.65 |
| 1937 | 1 | 4 | 4.28 | 3.11 |
*Rate per thousand live births—figure not available in respect of rate per thousand total births.
Previously, I have pointed out how difficult it is to define the term " maternal
death." The official definition is " a death due to or in consequence of childbirth,"
but in some cases, however, it is all but impossible to say whether the death does
actually and definitely come within the terms of this definition. Because the
term is so difficult to define in practice, it is impracticable to compare the figures
of today with the figures of 25 and 100 years ago, and it is equally difficult to
compare the figures of one part of the Country with another part of the Country.
The figures I have given are those of the Registrar-General.
There were five maternal deaths during the year—i.e., deaths due to or in
consequence of pregnancy or parturition.
One of these was due to very early pregnancy and would not have been looked
upon as a maternal death years ago. This case illustrates what I have said above,
and what I have said previously, that it is impracticable to compare the figures of
today with the figures of 25 and 100 years ago.