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The total number of live births registered in the borough during
the year was 4,349, and of which 2,751 belonged to other areas. In
addition 218 births belonging to Stepney occurred outside the borough,
making a total of 1,816 births (901 males; 915 females) to Stepney
residents.
The live birth rate is 20.19 per 1,000 population. The rate when
adjusted by the comparability factor is 18.37, compared with the rate for
England and Wales of 18.2, the highest since 1947.
Illegitimate live births numbered 252, representing 13.87 per cent
of the total live births.
Still-births numbered 38, representing a rate of 20.49 per 1,000
total births, compared with 17.3 for the country as a whole.
Accidents in the Home
Many more deaths occur now throughout the country from accidents in
the home than from road accidents, or from lung tuberculosis, and the
public cannot be urged too strongly to see that all possible precautions
are taken in the home to minimise these. The powers and duties of the
Council under the Home Safety Act, 1961, relating to the dissemination
of information and advice for promoting safety in the home and encouraging
proper precautions against accidents are exercisable by the Public Health
Committee. The means taken to educate the public in this respect are
referred to elsewhere in this Report.
The County Medical Officer of Health supplies information, which
he obtains from the London Ambulance Service, relating to the removal
to hospital of home accident cases occurring in London and in the London
County Council Health Division 5, of which Steoney forms a part. A
table summarising these figures over the past four years is given on
page 63, from which it will be noted that there is a steady annual
increase, the total increase since 1960 being in the order of 17 per cent
for all accidents in London as a whole, and 32 per cent for the London
County Council Division 5 area. Accidents due to falls have increased
in this area by 28 per cent, compared with London's increase of 12 per
cent, and the increase in other accidents in the Division is in the order
of 42 per cent as against 33 per cent for the County. While the figures
may not be fully comprehensive they give a reasonably accurate picture.
During the year, the London Ambulance Service removed to hospital
195 Stepney home accident cases, as compared with 155 last year.
Old people are prone to home accidents, and the department's women
hygiene officers pay great attention to this risk during their visits.
For example where accidents from gas appliances have occurred, or are
likely to occur, they have been instrumental in obtaining for the old
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