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
Wimbledon 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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The perinatal death rate is now looked upon with increasing importance as
perinatal deaths account for eighty per cent of the total loss of infant life
from the twenty eighth week of pregnancy to the end of the first year of life.
It will be noted that of the 13 infant deaths in Wimbledon 9 occurred in the
first week of life. The most promising way to reduce infant mortality is by
concentrating on the prevention of perinatal deaths.
The following table shows the cause of the 13 infant deaths which occurred during 1962, together with the age at death.
| Cause of death | Under 1 week | 2-3 weeks | Total under it weeks | 1-3 months | 3-6 months | 6-9 months | 9-12 months | Total deaths under 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congenital defect or birth injury | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | 3 | |
| Prematurity and atelectasis | 7 | - | 7 | - | — | - | — | 7 |
| Collapse of lung | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Pneumonia | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Totals | 9 | 1 | 10 | - | 1 | 2 | 13 |