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The birth rate of 15.53 again shows a decrease compared
with the previous year when the rate was 15.99 per 1000 population
but is in tune with the national trend. The death rate of 11.4 is
higher than the 1965 rate of 10.8 but compares favourably with
the rate of 11.7 for England and Wales. Illegitimate Births
increased from 190 to 211, the percentage in relation to total
live births rising from 4.4 to 5.0.
The Infant, Neonatal, Early-Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality
rates all decreased slightly, only the infant mortality rate for
illegitimate live births showing an increase. This is due to the
small number of deaths involved, the increase being due to one
death more than in the previous year.
Infant Mortality
The infant mortality rate for England and Wales has fallen
over the past ten years from 23.8 per thousand in 1956 to 19.0
per thousand in 1966. If related to the number of births in the
country in 1966, this difference in rate means that 3980 less
children died under the age of 1 year, than would have been the
case if no improvement in the 1956 rate had occured.
The 1961 perinatal mortality rate (still births and deaths in
first week of life) of 32 per thousand live and still births for
England and Wales was considered by the Ministry of Health
to be too high. It was then estimated that the numbers of such
deaths could be reduced by 5,000 per annum by raising the general
standard of care of the premature baby, and by adopting all
possible measures to prevent the onset of premature labour. Since
1961 the perinatal mortality rate for England and Wales has
dropped by 5.7 to 26.3. In numbers this means that had there
been no improvement in the 1961 rate of 32 per thousand, the
total number of still births and deaths under 1 week of age in
1966 would have been approximately 4,900 greater. Similarly had
the 1966 rate been achieved by 1961, the figure for that year
would have been approximately 4,580 less. A similar improvement
in the perinatal death rate has occured in Havering. In 1961 the
rates in the two constituent areas were Hornchurch 32.0, Romford
31.9 as compared with 22.6 for 1966.
The special baby care unit attached to Oldchurch Hospital
serves the district adequately. In addition a "flying squad"
service is based at this Hospital to provide specialised help
immediately should an unexpected emergency arise at a domiciliary
confinement.
The causes of infant deaths and of neonatal deaths together
with the age at death are given in Tables 2 and 3.
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