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
Woolwich 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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Infant Mortality.
The infant death rate for 1952 (21 4) was the lowest on record for the Borough,
the previous lowest being 24 4 in 1950 and 27 2 in 1947. The 1952 record figure
compares very favourably with the London rate of 23 8 and the rate for England
and Wales of 27 6 and that for the large towns in England and Wales of 31-2. Of
the total of 47 infant deaths during the year, nine were due to premature birth. The
number of deaths occurring in the first month of life was 37.
The following table gives details of the infant deaths for 1952: —
| Cause of Death | Under 1 week | 1—2 weeks | 2—3 weeks | 3—4 weeks | Total under 4 weeks | 1 month 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 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premature Birth | 9 | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | 9 |
| Congenital malformation | 6 | 2 | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 |
| Broncho pneumonia | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 10 |
| Atelectasis | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 7 |
| Suffocation | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Septicaemia | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 3 |
| Meningitis | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 |
| Injury at birth | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | - | — | — | 1 |
| Other causes | 4 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| 37 | 47 |