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3
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of
Dagenham.
Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
My report on the health of Dagenham for the year 1952 is on
similar lines to that for 1951 in as much as there is no line of demarcation
drawn between the services administered through the local sanitary
and local health authorities.
There has been a slight decrease in the number of births—
1,708 compared with 1,729. The crude birth rate of 15.09 when
corrected becomes 14.33, that for England and Wales for the same
period is 15.3. The infant mortality rate, that is the number of
infants who died before attaining the age of one year per 1,000 live
births was 26.35, comparing favourably with the national figure
which was 27.6.
Deaths of residents amounted to 826, giving a crude death
rate of 7.3, which being corrected by the application of the comparability
factor becomes 11.97, the rate for England and Wales being
11.3, that for the 160 Great Towns with which are included Dagenham
12.1, and London 12.6.
I am pleased to record that there were no maternal deaths, and
none occurred attributable to Measles, Whooping Cough, Scarlet
Fever or Diphtheria. It is also gratifying to note that there has
been a slight decline in deaths from Cancer, 168 against 175.
ante-natal
relaxation
classes.
The value of systematized relaxation in preparation
for labour has been clearly demonstrated
recently, and with a view to making these
benefits available to expectant mothers in this
district, four of our Health Visitors attended a special course of
instruction. Classes have been set up in four of the ante-natal clinics,
each one being conducted by a specially trained Health Visitor. They
ate held weekly and are so arranged that each course of instruction
consists of 10 to 12 sessions of approximately two hours duration.
The first half hour or so is devoted to a lecture, this is followed by
exercises of the abdominal, respiratory and pelvic muscles which also
last for about half an hour, then relaxation for a further hour takes
place.
Although only commenced quite recently, these classes have
become very popular and are well attended. We are frequently told
by expectant mothers who are attending these courses how the
terrors of child birth have been removed. If they succeed only in
dispelling some of the old wives' tales and superstitions which have
been current from time immemorial, their inauguration will be fully
justified.