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The crude birth rate for Havering in 1967 was 16.3 live
births per 1000 population. After adjustment by the comparability
factor, the rate is 14.9, a decrease of 0.6 compared with 1966. The
rate of 14.9 is 2.3 below the comparable rate of 17.2 for England
and Wales, but the decrease in Havering is in line with the
decrease irt the national rate, which was 0.5 lower than the
figure for 1966.
The death rate of 10.3 shows a decrease of 1.1 per 1000
population, compared with the 1966 rate of 11.4. The 1966 rate
was, however, 0.6 higher than the preceding year, and the rates
for the last three years as set out below, have followed the rates
for England and Wales, although showing a wider fluctuation
which often occurs when dealing with comparatively small numbers.
This is shown as follows:
1965 1966 1967
Death Rate Havering 10.8 11.4 10.3
,, ,, England & Wales 11.5 11.7 11.2
The Infant Death Rates, including Neo-natal, Early neo-natal
and perinatal mortality rates have all shown a steady decrease
for many years. It is therefore disappointing that in 1967, all
these rates should show an increase. The number of deaths of
infants under one year of age increased from 58 to 73, the rate
per 1000 total live births increasing from 13.7 to 17.8, an increase
of 4.1. By comparison, the rates for England and Wales showed
that over the country as a whole, the decrease in infant mortality
is continuing, the infant death rate of 18.3 for 1967 showing a
reduction of 0.7 over the 1966 figure.
Examination of the causes of death of the 73 infants reveals
that the increase is mainly attributable in Bronchitis, Broncho
pneumonia and Pneumonia which increased by 10. As stated
above, fairly wide fluctuations occur from time to time when
comparatively small numbers are involved, and it is hoped that
the figures for 1968 will indicate that this is such a variation. The
causes of infant deaths and of neo-natal deaths are given in
Tables 2 and 3. The number of illegitimate births decreased from
221 to 208, but with the drop in the total number of births, the
percentage of illegitimate births in relation to total live births
increased to 5.3%.
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