London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wood Green 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wood Green]
This page requires JavaScript
6
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The number of deaths of infants under 12 months was 18, which
gives an Infantile Mortality Rate of 25 per 1,000 live births, the
lowest rate recorded so far in Wood Green. The previous best rate
was 27.3 in 1945. The Infantile Mortality Rate of 25 per 1,000 for
Wood Green compares favourably with that for the country as a
whole which was 32, and that for a group of towns of comparable size
which was 37.
Of the 18 infantile deaths, 7 occurred within 24 hours of birth,
and 14 during the first four weeks of life, giving a Neo-natal Mortality
Rate of 19.
All seven deaths occurring within 24 hours of birth were those
of premature babies.
The following table shows the causes of death at the various ages under one year:—
| Cause of Death. | Under 1 week. | 1 to 2 weeks. | 2 to 3 weeks. | 3 to 4 weeks. | Total under 4 weeks. | 4 weeks and under 3 months. | 3 months and under 6 months. | 6 months and under 9 months. | 9 months and under 12 months. | Total Deaths under one year. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prematurity | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 7 |
| Congenital Defect | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 5 |
| Atelectasis | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Pulmonary Oedema | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Intra-cranial Haemorrhage | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| Haematemesis Neonatorum | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Totals | 12 | — | 1 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 18 |