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Births
There was a slight decrease in the birth rate for 1954, and it appears to be becoming stabilised at
just under 15 per 1,000, a little below that of England and Wales. (Page 3.)
Infant Mortality
(a) By Wards
The infant mortality declined to a record low figure of under 20 per 1,000 (table 1), a figure which
was at one time considered to be the lowest possible attainable. A much lower rate, however, has often been
attained in the better wards, and it is pleasing to record that as many as six wards had a rate below 20 for
the years 1952-4 (table 2). However, it is disturbing to note that infant mortality in Carlton, the worst
ward, is almost four times as high as in Cricklewood, the best ward. Stonebridge and Roundwood also still
show a high rate. It is clear that an improvement in conditions in these wards would help to reduce the
mortality to less than 10 per 1,000, the figure achieved in Cricklewood (table 2).
(b) By Social Class
The number of deaths in the social class groups gives a further illustration : the majority of infant
deaths occur in the three lower social groups (table 3). This reflects the picture in the country. The review
of the 1951 census one per cent. sample shows that although there has been a marked reduction in mortality
during the past ten years, the social class differences have remained almost unchanged; the total infant
mortality has remained more than twice as high among the children of parents in unskilled occupations as
among the children of those in professional occupations, rather less than twice as high for stillbirths and
deaths under four weeks of age, but four times as high for infants dying between four weeks and one year.
(c) 1-12 Months
(i) Infectious diseases and living conditions
The big reduction in infant mortality has been largely in the age group 1-12 months, particularly
from infections (table 4), and since bad living conditions are mainly responsible, infant mortality can be
reduced still further.