London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Heston and Isleworth 1915

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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10
The number of still births notified this year is 22. It is
noteworthy that this is the only reliable figure which is available
as to the number of still births in the district, and it is a matter
which requires further investigation that one child in 44 born is
still-born.
The reduction in the number of women employed during
pregnancy, which was noted last year, has not continued, the
percentage (13) being the same this year.
Maternity and Infant Welfare Centres.
During the year, arrangements were made to carry into effect
the scheme for Maternity and Infant Welfare Centres, which had
been formulated by Dr. Strain and adopted by the Health Committee
and Council. The centres were opened in September, 1915. One
centre is located at the Council House, where an Infant Clinic is
held every Monday afternoon from 2 to 4 and maternity cases
are seen on Thursday afternoons at 2.30. The other centre is
located at the Isleworth Public Hall, where an Infant Clinic is
held every Wednesday from 2 to 4, any maternity cases being
seen between the same hours. The Infant Clinics are proving
successful, but very few persons have, as yet, taken advantage of
the maternity consultations.
Infant Deaths.
The total number of infant deaths during 1915 was 98, giving
an Infant Mortality rate of 102 4 per 1,000 births. This figure is
higher than that of 1914, which was 97 9 per 1,000 births. The
figure for this year is, however, lower than the rate for England
and Wales for the same period (110), and London, 112.
The Infant Mortality rate, as seen in the table on page 5
(Vital Statistics), varies from 54.3 in Hounslow North Ward, which
is the lowest, to 125.9 in Hounslow South Ward, where the rate
is highest.