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VIOLENCE.
Deaths from Violence (including Suicide) again decreased during
1946, the Death Rate per thousand of population being 0.24 per thousand
of population. This is appreciably lower than the average for the years
1920-39 and, as would be expected, very much below the average during
the war years when enemy activity more than offset the reduction in
road fatalities. The chief reduction in 1946 was in accidental deaths
other than road accidents (which increased by 2 to 5) and suicide. The
causes of death in this group in 1946 were train accidents (2), falls (3)
and industrial accident (1).
Road deaths resulted from or involved cycles (2), motor cycles (2)
and a motor car (1).
The suicide death rate was much lower than the average for the
years before or during the war.
TUBERCULOSIS AND PNEUMONIA.
Deaths from Tuberculosis and Pneumonia are referred to in later
sections of this Report.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
There were 3 deaths associated with childbirth during 1946, compared
with nil, 2, 1, 1, and 1 in the preceding 5 years.
Two of the deaths were associated with septic abortions, and the
other an unfortunate result of the anaesthetic used for instrumental
delivery. While all were probably preventable this could not have been
expected from any improvement in normal ante-natal care and supervision.
Regrettable and challenging as these deaths always are, statistically
the occurrence of 3 such cases in one year in part balances the absence
of any maternal deaths in 1945. For 1946, however, the Maternal
Mortality Rate must be recorded as 2.71 per 1,000 live and still births
compared with 1.43 for England and Wales.
INFANT MORTALITY.
During 1946 there were 27 deaths among the children under one
year of age, as compared with 25, 28, 32, 38 and 29 in the preceding 5
years. One of the deaths was in the case of an illegitimate child.
The resultant Infant Mortality Rate was thus only 25 per thousand
registered births, which is one of the lowest Rates recorded for this
District, the years 1921, 1931 and 1933 being the only years with lower
rates, viz. 17, 23 and 20.
This Rate is very liable to fluctuation but if 10 yearly averages are
taken it can be observed that, after a higher Rate during the 1915-18
period, this Rate remained at about 33-35 with a very slight tendency
to increase. During the war there was an increase, particularly in 1941-2,
but since that the Rate has steadily decreased, being 36, 33, 32 and 25
in the last 4 years. It is hoped that a lower average will be maintained
in the future.
The Infant Mortality Rate for England and Wales was 43 in 1946,
and 46 in 1945.
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