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Birth. Rate. The Birth Rate once again showed a
slight fall during the year, from
10.62 in 1940 to 9.97. It is difficult to explain
this fall, especially when the attendances at our
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres are noted, but
this latter fact is explained by the increased
proportion of mothers attending the Centres.
Still Birth Rate. The Still Birth Rate for
1941 shows a slight rise,
from 28.53 in the previous year to 34.71.
In spite of this rise, the total number of still
births recorded during the year fell from 25 to 22,
once again showing the danger of comparative
statistics
Death Rate. The Death Rate for 1941 was 11.27
as against 10.97 in 1940. This
compares with a London Death Rate of 13.5 and a
Death Rate for England & Wales of 12.9
Infant Mortality. The Infant Mortality Rate
for 1941 was 40.91, as
against 52.81 in the previous year, comparing with
a similar rate for England & Wales of 59, and for
London, of 68. The fact that the Registrar General
asks us to base our calculations on a lesser number
of births than those actually credited to the
district, throws our Infant Mortality Rate out of
balance. This is shown very clearly when it is
realised that the total number of deaths of children
under the age of 1 year was only two more in 1941
than in 1940 (25 as against 23).
Maternal Mortality. The Maternal Mortality Rate
was 5.16 for 1941, as
against 2.76 in 1940. The number of deaths was the
same each year, i.e. 2.
Maternity & Child Welfare. From the various
tables set out
under the heading "Maternity and Child Welfare
Services" on page 17 et seq.,it will be seen that
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