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
Stepney 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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by the Medical Officer of Health of the district. During the year,
signatures on 4,001 certificates were verified as those of medical
practitioners practising in Stepney and the certificates endorsed
accordingly.
Venereal Disease
Attendances at special clinics for these diseases have shown an
increase over the last 10 years. New Stepney cases attending clinics
during the last three-quarters of 1962 for treatment and observation
are shown in the following table. Separating the native-born from the
immigrant population an interesting pattern emerges. approximately
two-thirds of the males but only one-tenth of the females attending
are of immigrant origin.
Thus, it would appear that unattached immigrant males are acquiring the disease from white consorts, who form by far the largest fraction of the reservoir of infection, as demonstrated by the fact that nine-tenths of those attending clinics are native-born women.
| Age Groups:- | Under 16 | 16 | 17 | 18-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30 and over | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous | M. | - | - | 6 | 9 | 68 | 64 | 156 | 303 |
| F. | - | 1 | 12 | 47 | 106 | 49 | 72 | 287 | |
| Immigrant | M. | 2 | - | 2 | 14 | 125 | 152 | 278 | 573 |
| F. | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 29 | |
| Totals: | M. | 2 | - | 8 | 23 | 193 | 216 | 434 | 876 |
| F. | - | 3 | 14 | 51 | 113 | 51 | 84 | 316 | |
National figures show a similar upward trend. Particularly,
gonorrhoea in the 'teenage' female is increasingly common. This group
appears to be a vulnerable one, and requires special attention by health
education methods to dispel any ignorance of the risks associated with
promiscuous sexual behaviour. To this end, a number of meetings have
been held in the Borough at which leaders of the local community,
teachers, and youth club workers have been given an outline of these
diseases and how they affect the community's health. It is hoped to
plan a large-scale campaign in 1963 to reach youth club members and
school-age groups. There are certain difficulties with health education
schemes in a subject so associated with taboos and repression. Perhaps
if sex education in its widest sense of fitting the person for life were
paramount, sex education would fit into its rightful place therein.
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