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Maternal Mortality.—The maternal mortality rate, i.e., the
number of mothers dying a,s the result of childbirth per 1,000 total
(live and still) births was 4.82 for 1946. representing a total of 6
deaths. In 1945 there were 3 deaths with a corresponding rate of
3.00.
It is once again emphasised that year-to-year comparisons of
our maternal mortality serve very little useful purpose. This is
not to say that we must not take every known precaution to reduce
our rate to the practicable minimum. All maternal deaths are
carefully investigated, and where any correctable circumstance
appears to exist, the matter is taken up in the proper quarter.
Mortality of "Toddlers".—Five deaths occurred amongst
children of the age group 1—5 years during 1946. This represents
a death-rate of 0.07 per 1,000 of the population, and 0.56 per cent,
of the total deaths for the year at all ages. In 1945 there were 2
deaths giving a death-rate of 0.03 and a percentage of 0.25.
Mortality of Persons over the Age of 65.—550 or 62.3 per
cent, of the total deaths during the year were persons over the age
of 65. Of these, 168 died between the ages of SO and 90, while a
further 40 were over the latter age (13 males, the eldest being 97,
and 27 females, the eldest being 100).
A study of the figures set out above will show the general trend
of the death rate in Southgate. A study of the individual causes of
death set out on page 16 will also show that diseases of the heart and
circulatory system were responsible for the majority of the deaths of
elderly persons in the district. This group of diseases is taking the
place of cancer as the major cause of mortality in elderly persons, a
fact which, to a large extent, must be attributed to the increasing
strain of living, especially in the later phases of life.
Zymotic Mortality (including deaths from the seven principal
zymotic diseases, viz. : smallpox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid
fever, measles, whooping cough and diarrhoea (in children under
2 years of age).— There were 3 deaths in this category, all from
infantile diarrhoea.
The zymotic death-rate for the year was therefore 0.04 per
1,000 of the population, as compared with 2 deaths and a rate of
0.03 in 1945.
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