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12
BIRTHS.
At 15.8 per 1,000 total population, the birth rate exceeded that
of England and Wales which was 15.0, it was also slightly in excess
of the local figure of 15.3 during the previous year. A total of
1,370 live births were registered as against 1,317 during 1954. It
is perhaps surprising that this figure of 1,370, is made up of exactly
the same number, i.e. 685 of males and females.
The birth rate, adjusted for comparison with other areas, is 15.3.
Having considered the over all birth rate, I must now refer to
the illegitimate birth rate which is 32.4 per 1,000 live and still births
and represents a total of 45 illegitimate births of which 25 were males
and 20 females.
Finally, reference must be made to the still births of which 17
were registered and of those 11 were males and 6 females, giving a
rate of 12.3 per 1,000 live and still births.
DEATHS.
747 deaths appertaining to the Urban District were registered
during 1955, giving a Death Rate of 8.6 per 1,000 total population.
The adjusted rate for comparison is 10.5.
The rate for England and Wales as a whole is 11.7.
Of the 747 deaths registered, 399 were males and 348 females.
An analysis of the ages at death shows that:—
34 were under 1 year of age.
4 were 1 and under 5 years of age.
3 were 5 and under 15 years of age.
5 were 15 and under 25 years of age.
30 were 25 and under 45 years of age.
228 were 45 and under 65 years of age.
166 were 65 and under 75 years of age.
277 were 75 and over.
747 Total.
The death rate at 8.6, shows an increase when compared with
a figure of 7.9 for the previous year, but this small increase is largely
accounted for by an increase in the infant mortality rate which has
risen from 18.2 in 1954, to 24.8 in 1955. Even now this compares
favourably with the whole of England and Wales for which the
infant mortality rate is 24.9, which figure itself is the lowest ever
recorded for the country as a whole.
The infant mortality rate represents 34 deaths, of which 25
occurred during the first month of life, and as many as 10 were due
to congenital malformations.