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 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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The following table shows the comparison for Ilford, England and Wales, London, and Towns having a population exceeding 50,000 for the past 10 years:—
| Year. | Ilford. | England and Wales. | London. | Towns with population over 50,000. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 29.6 | 43 | 41 | 46 |
| 1945 | 32.7 | 46 | 53 | 54 |
| 1944 | 36.8 | 46 | 61 | 52 |
| 1943 | 35.1 | 49 | 58 | 58 |
| 1942 | 30.6 | 49 | 60 | 59 |
| 1941 | 40.9 | 59 | 68 | 71 |
| 1940 | 32.8 | 55 | 50 | 61 |
| 1939 | 33.9 | 50 | 48 | 53 |
| 1938 | 36.7 | 63 | 57 | 57 |
| 1937 | 42.0 | 58 | 60 | 62 |
Illegitimate Births and Deaths.—107 of the live births registered
(45 males and 62 females) were illegitimate, that is 3.1 per cent, of the births
registered.
Five illegitimate children died under one year of age from the following
causes:—
Atelectasis; prematurity 36 weeks, due to eclampsia.
Broncho pneumonia.
Cardiac failure due to pneumonia.
Extreme prematurity, approximately 30 weeks gestation.
Marasmus; Congenital heart disease.
The infant mortality rate of illegitimate children was 46.7 per 1,000,
compared with the infant mortality rate of 29.1 for legitimate children.
The following table shows the birth and death rate9 of legitimate and illegitimate infants for the past ten years:—
| Year. | Legitimate Infants. | Illegitimate Infants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Births. | Percentage of Registered Births. | Deaths. | Rate per 1,000 Legitimate Live Births. | Live Births. | Percentage of Registered Births. | Deaths. | Rate per 1,000 Illegitimate Live Births. | |
| 1946 | 3,336 | 96.9 | 97 | 29.1 | 107 | 3.1 | 5 | 46.7 |
| 1945 | 2.343 | 94.5 | 73 | 31.2 | 136 | 5.5 | 8 | 58.8 |
| 1944 | 2,655 | 95.8 | 95 | 35.7 | 116 | 4.2 | 7 | 60.3 |
| 1943 | 2,532 | 96.6 | 89 | 35.2 | 89 | 3.4 | 3 | 33.7 |
| 1942 | 2,330 | 96.5 | 71 | 30.4 | 85 | 3.5 | 3 | 35.3 |
| 1941 | 1,756 | 96.7 | 61 | 34.7 | 60 | 3.3 | 6 | 100.0 |
| 1940 | 1,974 | 97.5 | 60 | 30.4 | 50 | 2.5 | 3 | 60.0 |
| 1939 | 2,255 | 97.8 | 72 | 31.9 | 52 | 2:2 | 3 | 57.7 |
| 1938 | 2,233 | 97.6 | 83 | 37.2 | 56 | 2.4 | 1 | 17.8 |
| 1937 | 2,202 | 97.3 | 91 | 41.3 | 61 | 2.7 | 4 | 65.6 |
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.