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
Ilford 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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47
Illegitimate Births and Deaths.—136 of the live births registered
(79 males and 57 females) were illegitimate, that is 5.5 per cent. of the births
registered.
Eight illegitimate children died under one year of age from the
following causes:—
Acute bronchitis.
Acute primary pneumonia.
Asphyxia due to premature inhalation of birth fluids and vernix
caseosa.
Broncho-pneumonia.
Difficult delivery by forceps.
Extreme prematurity (26 weeks gestation).
Gastro-enteritis; broncho-pneumonia.
Heart failure; atelectasis.
The infant mortality rate of illegitimate children was 58.8 per 1,000, compared with the infant mortality rate of 31.2 for legitimate children. The following table shows the death-rate of illegitimate and legitimate infants for the past five years:—
| Year. | Illegitimate Infants. | Legitimate Infants. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Births. | Deaths. | Rate per 1,000 Illegitimate Live Births. | Live Births. | Deaths. | Rate per 1,000 Legitimate Live Births. | |
| 1945 | 136 | 8 | 58.8 | 2,343 | 73 | 31.2 |
| 1944 | 116 | 7 | 60.3 | 2,655 | 95 | 35.7 |
| 1943 | 89 | 3 | 33.7 | 2,532 | 89 | 35.2 |
| 1942 | 85 | 3 | 35.3 | 2,330 | 71 | 30.4 |
| 1941 | 60 | 6 | 100.0 | 1,756 | 61 | 34.7 |
The Council has not appointed a Social Worker for the purposes of
Circular 2866 of the Ministry of Health with regard to the care of illegitimate
children.
There is, however, co-operation with a Voluntary Moral WelfareWorker
in the district and all bases are followed up by the Health Visitors.
By arrangement with the Essex County Council, 2 girls were admitted
with their babies during the year to the Ardmore Hostel, Buckhurst Hill,
for a period of 14 weeks 3 days and 4 weeks 6 days respectively, at a cost to
this Council of £3 5s. Od. per week each. The girls contributed £1 and 10s.
per week respectively towards the cost of their maintenance in the Hostel.
One baby was subsequently adopted and the other infant remained in
the care of its mother who returned to her parents' home.
A number of unmarried mothers from Ilford are also accepted at the
Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster Moral Welfare Committee's Hostel
at 51, Junction Road, Romford.
Foster-children.
Number of foster-children on register on 1st January, 1945 21
Number of foster-children who were notified during 1945 11
Number of foster-children returned to their mothers during 1945 4
Number of foster-children taken off register for various other
reasons during 1945 4
Number of foster-children on the register on 31st December, 1945 24