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
Croydon 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
Notificstion of sirthe Act. 1915
Notifications were received from:-
| Live Births. | Still Births | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwives | 2452 | 68 | 2520 |
| Doctors, Parents and others | 1059 | 41 | 1100 |
| Total | 3511 | 109 | 3620 |
Maternal Mortality
There were 4 deaths directly due to pregnancy,
compared with 3 in 1938. The maternal mortality rote was
1.16 per 1,00G births, coup: red with 0.87 in 1938. In
other words one mother died for every 835 live babies born.
The deaths directly due to pregnancy were caused by:-
(a) Detachment of the placenta: haemorrhage from uterus
(b) Pulmonary embolism consequent upon operation of
Caesarean section performed for placenta praevia.
(c) Fatty degeneration of the heart, accelerated
by difficult labour (brow presention.).
(a) Acute peritonitis consequent upon septic abortion
(natural) .
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
Thirty-nine cases of Puerperal Pyrexia were notified.
This is a rate of 11.3 per 1,000 births (live and still births).
Accommodation for Confinement.
The following Table gives information concerning the accommodation utilized for confinements.
| Number. | Percentage. | |
|---|---|---|
| In Private Houses | 1563 | 42.53 |
| In Public Institutions | 1402 | 38.15 |
| Registered Maternity Homes | 710 | 19.32 |
Still Births.
During 1939, 107 still births were registered in
respect of Croydon. Of these 64 were male babies and 43
female; 2 males were illegitimate. The proportion
of still births to living children was as 1 to 32. The
still birth rate was 3.1 per cent of the total births.