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Births.
The total number of live births registered in the Borough during the
year was 3,903, and of this number 2,317 belonged to other areas. In
addition 232 births belonging to Stepney occurred outside the Borough,
making a total of 1,818 births (963 male and 855 female) to Stepney
residents.
The live birth rate is 18.86 per 1,000 of the population. The rate
when adjusted by the comparability factor is 16.59, compared with the
rate for England and Wales of 16.4.
Illegitimate live births numbered 201, representing 11.05 per cent,
of the total live births - the highest since 1945.
Still-births numbered 35, representing a rate of 18.88 per 1,000
total births.
Marriages.
The number of marriages registered during the year was 775, being
130 less than last year. The marriage rate per 1,000 population is
16.1, compared with 18.5 in 1957.
Deaths.
The net number of deaths registered during the year was 1,161 (698
male and 463 female), compared with 1,214 last year. The rate of 12.04
compares with 12.41 for 1957. The principal causes of death were heart
disease which accounted for 27 per cent, of the total deaths, cancer 19
per cent, and diseases of the respiratory system 19 per cent. Deaths
of persons over the age of 65 amounted to 66 per cent, of the total doaths.
Details of deaths by cause and age are given in Table 1 of the
Appendix on pages 49 and 50.
In England and Wales, today, the expectation of life at one year is
69 for males and 74 for females, compared with 40 and 42 years respectively
in 1841, and 59 and 63 between the years 1930-32.
Infant Mortality.
Deaths of infants under one year numbered 36, giving a rate of 19.80
per 1,000 live births (the lowest for 6 years), compared with 24.28 last
year. The rate for England and Wales is 22.5, the lowest ever recorded.
Of the infant deaths 21 were under four weeks old, representing a rate of
11.55 per 1,000 live births. Last year there were 29 neo-natal deaths,
and the rate was 15.65 per 1,000 live births. The neo-na.tal mortality
rate for England and Wales is 16.2.
The "peri-natal" mortality rate of infants (viz: still-births plus
deaths occurring in the first week of life) was 29.68 as compared with
33.36 last year.
The tables on page 51 show deaths from stated causes at various
ages under one year, together with comparative figures over the last
5 years.