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
Dagenham 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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29
Maternal Mortality
Four maternal deaths were assigned to this district, which give
a maternal mortality rate of 1.85 per 1,000 births. That for
England and Wales for the corresponding period was 1.02. It
should be mentioned that two of these maternal deaths were
attributed to Septicaemia following abortion and in both cases " in
circumstances not fully disclosed by the evidence."
The following table shows the number of visits paid by the Health Visitors during the year:—
| (a) To expectant mothers | First visits | 286 |
| Total visits | 332 | |
| (b) To children under one year of age | First visits | 2,268 |
| Total visits | 4,633 | |
| (c) To children between the ages of one and five years | Total visits | 9,163 |
| (d) Ineffective visits | Total visits | 2,588 |
| Grand Total | 16,716 | |
Supervision of Midwives
The following is a summary of the reasons for sending for
medical aid by midwives:—
Perineal Tear 169
Prolonged Labour 61
Discharging Eyes 39
Rise of Temperature 28
Miscarriage 23
Adherent Placenta 20
Threatened Miscarriage 17
Post-Partum Hæmorrhage 16
Premature Baby 13
Malpresentation 12
Ante-Partum Hæmorrhage 11
Phlebitis 6
Jaundice 5
Albuminuria 5
Cyanosed Infant 4
Instrumental Delivery 4
Septic Spots 3
Placenta Prævia 2
Asphyxiated Infant 2
Feebleness of Infant 2
Other Causes 78
520