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
Bromley 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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birth, i.e., stillbirths, and those that die within one week
of lite, i.e., neo-natal deaths. These are in fact due to
ante-natal and natal conditions and are, if adequate care
and service be given, largely preventable. It is in this
sphere, now that we have within 20 years halved the infant
death rate, that we must concentrate our attention, for
whatever we have done in the past has not resulted in any
reduction in stillbirths and deaths of children under one week of age.
The stillbirth rate and neo-natal death rate per 1,000 births is given in the following table:—
| Stillbirth. | Neo-Natal. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910-1914 | — | 19 | |
| 1921-1925 | — | 22 | |
| 1926-1930 | 25 | 17 | |
| 1931-1935 | 29 | 38 | |
| 1936 | 32 | 17 | |
| Sepsis. | Accidentsof pregnancy,etc. | Rate per 1,000 births. | |
| 1911-1915 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 1916-1920 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 1921-1925 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| 1926-1930 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 1931-1935 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 1936 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Tables II., III. and IV. in the appendix will be found
to contain statistical material relating- to maternal
mortality..
Of the three deaths recorded in 1936 two occurred in
maternity institutions and one at home. The cause of
deaths were, ante-partum haemorrhage (blood transfusion),
acute streptococcal pneumonia and eclampsia. It is
reasonable to state that two of these deaths came under a
preventable cause. It has more than once been stated
that 50 per cent. of all maternal deaths are preventable,
and if preventable why not prevented?
The passing of the Midwives Act, 1936, which operates
in 1937, is the first step towards an improved service of
adequate domiciliary care of the mother during confinement.
Under the Act the Local Authority proposes to