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
Harrow 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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31
Of the 42 cases of which particulars are known, in 6 there was no
definite cause, in 7 the reason was acute disease in or accident to the
mother (including 4 toxaemias), and in two others the cause was maternal.
Anomalies of the fcetus, placenta or cord accounted for 8 (6 due to congenital
malformations and 2 to hydramnios). 15 were due to death of
the fcetus, 12 because of prolonged labour and one because of prolapse
of the cord.
CHILD MORTALITY.
In the following table is set out an analysis of the ages at which the
deaths amongst children under five occurred in each of the four years,
1938 to 1941.
Table I.
| 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Live Births | 3292 | 3320 | 2999 | 2712 |
| No. of Deaths of Infants— | ||||
| Under 24 hours | 28 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
| 1 to 7 days | 27 | 36 | 35 | 28 |
| 1 to 4 weeks | 13 | 14 | 41 | 31 |
| 2 to 3 months | 17 | 28 | 23 | 28 |
| 3 to 6 months | 8 | 12 | 14 | 20 |
| 6 to 9 months | 18 | 10 | 12 | 17 |
| 9 to 12 months | 15 | 4 | 6 | 11 |
| Total | 126 | 128 | 150 | 151 |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 38.3 | 38.5 | 50.0 | 55.6 |
| Neonatal Rate | 21 | 20.8 | 31.1 | 28.0 |
| No. of Deaths of Children aged One year | 12 | 8 | 7 | 14 |
| Two years | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Three years | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Four years | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
INFANT MORTALITY.
151 (91 male and 60 female) infants died under one year of age,
constituting an infant mortality rate of 55.6
76 failed to survive one month. The neonatal mortality rate was
therefore 28.0 constituting 50 per cent, of the total infant mortality
rate. Of these 76, 16 failed to survive the 24 hours, the cause of death
m 9 being prematurity, in 2 birth injury, and in another 5, abnormality
or atelectasis. 28 deaths occurred in infants who survived 24 hours, but
failed to survive 7 days. Prematurity was responsible for 15 of these,
birth injury for 2, and developmental abnormalities 6. Of the 31 infants
who survived one week but succumbed before the end of the first month,
111 8 the cause was prematurity, in 2 birth injury, in 8 developmental
abnormalities or atelectasis. Infections accounted for 13 deaths, 6 being
due to gastro-enteritis and 7 to respiratory complaints.