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
East Ham 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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10
Still Births.
The number of still births registered was 51 compared with
45 i'or the previous year. The rate per 1,000 total (live and still)
births was 28.4, the figure for 1944 being 23.04.
Since 1939 the statistics in relation to still births is shewn below:—
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of still births | 57 | 35 | 38 | 69 | 50 | 45 | 51 |
| Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births | 29.9 | 21.7 | 29.1 | 42.5 | 26.1 | 23.04 | 28.4 |
In England and Wales there are at present about 20,000 still
births a year, a figure equivalent to 65% of the total infant deaths
under 1 year of age. This large wastage of life at birth is particularly
serious in view of the declining birth-rate.
Births.
The number of live births registered was 1,742 as compared
with 1,908 for the year 1944, equivalent to a birth rate of 18.2
per 1,000 of the population—the figure for the previous year—
20.9.
A comparison of the statistics for the period since 1939 is appended below:—
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Births (East Ham) | 1,845 | 1,572 | 1,267 | 1,553 | 1,868 | 1,908 | 1,742 |
| Birth rate (East Ham) | 14.4 | 14.29 | 15.81 | 17.4 | 20.09 | 20.9 | 18.2 |
| England and Wales | 14.9 | 14.6 | 14.2 | 15.8 | 16.5 | 17.6 | 16.1 |
Deaths.
The number of deaths was 1,235 as compared with 1,316 for
the year 1944. The death rate was 12.9 that for the previous
year being 14.4. Of the total deaths 690 or 56% died in institutions.
The number of residents who died outside the area and
whose deaths were assigned to the Borough was 672. The number
of deaths of non-residents in the district was 41. The percentage
of total deaths in the age groups was as follows :—
Under 1 year 1—5 years 5—15 years 15—45 45—65 years 65 and over
5.1 1.3 1.1 9.7 25.1 57-6
Reference to table 5 indicates the number of deaths due to enemy
action. If the deaths due to this cause are deducted from the
total deaths a true conception is obtained of the death rates from