London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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6. Causes of Death from Prematurity
| Unknown cause | 8 |
| Maternal toxaemia (1 diabetes) | 4 |
| Following Caesarean section. | 2 |
| Multiple pregnancy | 3 |
| Complication of pregnancy | 3 |
| Total | 20 |
7. Congenital Malformations
| Multiple abnormalities | 1 |
| Hydrocephalus and spina bifida | 1 |
| Congenital heart | 1 |
| Mongolism and atelectasis | 1 |
| Duodenal atresia | 1 |
| Oesophageal stenosis | 1 |
| Congenital heart and bronchopneumonia | 1 |
| Total | 7 |
8. Respiratory Infections (a)
| Bronchopneumonia | 6 |
| Acute bronchitis and pneumonia | 1 |
| Bronchitis | 1 |
| Acute laryngitis and bronchopneumonia | 1 |
| Acute influenzal bronchitis | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
(b) Deaths 1-12 Months by Social Class
| I | Nil |
| II | Nil |
| III | 2 |
| IV | 7 |
| V | 1 |
9. Causes of Infant Deaths in Willesden (Based on Registrar General's figures)
| 1936-1939 | 1940-1945 | 1946-1950 | 1951-1955 | 1955 (1954 in brackets) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | Rate | |||||||||||
| Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | Neonatal | 1-12 months | Total | ||
| Respiratory | 106 | 8.1 | 140 | 8.8 | 68 | 4.2 | 53 | 4.1 | 3 (2) | 10 (5) | 13 (7) | 4.9 (2.7) |
| Diarrhoea and enteritis | 131 | 10.0 | 108 | 6.8 | 37 | 2.3 | 12 | 1.0 | -(-) | — (2) | -(0.8) | |
| Other infections | 34 | 2.6 | 40 | 2.5 | 15 | 0.9 | 12 | 1.0 | -(1) | — (3) | — (4) | -(1.5) |
| Congenital malformations | 83 | 6.3 | 89 | 5.6 | 72 | 53 | 4.1 | 6(10) | — (2) | 7 (12) | ||
| Prematurity | 170 | 13.0 | 179 | 11.1 | 99 | 6.1 | 110 | 20(12) | — (—) | 20 (12) | 7.6(4.6) | |
| Injury at birth | 21 | 1.6 | 33 | 2.1 | 43 | 2.7 | 27 | 2.0 | 3(6) | 3 (6) | 1.1 (2.3) | |
| Other causes | 134 | 10.3 | 149 | 9.4 | 96 | 5.9 | 31 | 2.2 | 7(6) | 3.9 (2.7) | ||
| All causes | 679 | 51.9 | 738 | 46.5 | 430 | 26.5 | 298 | 22.8 | 39 (37) | 14 (13) | 53 (50) | 20.2 (19.2) |