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
Walthamstow 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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70
INFANT MORTALITY
The deaths of infants under one year were as follows:—
| Males | Females | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate | 16 | 10 | 26 |
| Illegitimate | — | — | — |
| Totals | 16 | 10 | 26 |
The death rates of infants under one year of age per 1,000
live births in Walthamstow when calculated on the totals given
by the Registrar'General are therefore:—
Legitimate, 18.7; Illegitimate, nil; Total, 18.7.
Of the 26 deaths 18 occurred in the first month of life including 12 in the first week, the age group distribution being as under:—
| Hours | Day | Week | Week | Mth. | Mth. | Mth. | Mth. | Mth. | Mth. | Mth. | Mth. | Mth. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0—24 | l—1 | 1 — 1 | 1—3 | 3—6 | 6—9 | 9—12 | ||||||
| 7 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||
Four deaths occurred at home, one in a Day Nursery and
21 in hospital.
Two deaths, including the one at the Day Nursery, were
accidental, due to inhalation of fluid, and were the subject of
inquests.
Principal causes of death were: Prematurity, 13; Congenital
abnormality, 5; Birth injury, 3; Infectious and other conditions, 3.
None of the deaths were considered to be preventable and
of the 13 ascribed to prematurity the average birth weight was
2 †b 12oz.
The Infant Mortality Rate for Walthamstow of 18.7 compares
very favourably with that for England and Wales for 1956 (23.8)
and is the lowest ever recorded in the Borough.