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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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32
Care of the Unmarried Mother.
The Croydon Association for Moral Welfare continued to act
for the Corporation and received payment on a capitation basis
for cases dealt with by their Social Workers. The Corporation
also paid hostel fees in respect of approved cases for whom such
accommodation was required.
During the year under review:-
288 cases were dealt with by the Social Workers
54 cases were admitted to Mother and Baby Homes
(This includes mothers who applied for help in 1963 whose
babies were born in 1964, and those who applied in 1964
whose babies were not due until 1965)
There were 4 miscarriages, 2 of which were in the 18-year-
old group.
(2 who applied as maternity cases were later found not to be
pregnant)
The Committee agreed to meet financial responsibility for the stay of unmarried mothers in Mother and Baby Homes for a period of three months. Of the younger mothers their ages when they applied for help were:-
| 1964 | 1963 | 1962 | 1961 | 1960 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 years old | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 14 „ „ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| 15 „ „ | 6 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 4 |
| 16 „ „ | 6 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 7 |
| 17 „ „ | 3 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 3 |
| 18„ „ | 16 | 18 | 8 | 19 | 4 |
| 32 | 58 | 45 | 75 | 20 |
During 1964, of these girls 25 went to Mother and Baby Homes,
15 being financially assisted by the Local Authority.
The ages of the younger mothers when their babies were born were:-
| 1964 | 1963 | 1962 | 1962 | 1960 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 years old | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| 15 „ „ | 3 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| 16„ „ | 4 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 6 |
| 17„ „ | 4 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| 18 „ „ | 10 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 19„ „ | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 24 | 57 | 45 | 40 | 26 |