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
Heston and Isleworth 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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Public Health Department,
92, Bath Road,
HOUNSLOW.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Heston
and Isleworth.
I
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to.submit my Annual Report for the year 1942.
As in recent years it is presented as a tabulated summary
and the various items have been selected to show broadly the
various activities of the Department.
Certain vital statistics are given below which permit a comparison with the four years prior to the outbreak of war:-
| Year | Birth Rate | Death Rate | Infant Mortality Rate | Maternal Mortality Rate | Still-birth Rate(per 1000 live & still-births) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 15.8 | 8.6 | 40.8 | 4.7 | 36 |
| 1936 | 15.7 | 9.1 | 48.2 | 1.9 | 30 |
| 1937 | 14.9 | 9.0 | 39.8 | 3.3 | 23 |
| 1938 | 14.2 | 8.6 | 45.9 | 2.7 | 30 |
| 1939 | 14.9 | 8.8 | 49.9 | 3.4 | 26 |
| 1940 | 13.7 | 12.3 | 58.1 | 2.3 | 25 |
| 1941 | 12.9 | 10.3 | 60.5 | 2.4 | 35 |
| 1942 | 14.6 | 10.2 | 72.1 | 2.8 | 32 |
The steady downward trend of the birth rate has been interrupted
and there is no increase in the proportion of illegitimate
births. The number of domiciliary confinements has not increased
and the additional need due to the increased birth rate was met
by hospitals and maternity homes.
Apart from 1940, when enemy action was a significant
cause of death, the death rate has remained very stable. It must
be remembered that the large number of young men and women serving
in the Forces is excluded from the population on which the rate is
based. In other words the civilian population toiay contains a
larger proportion of the young and old in whom the natural risks of
death are high, but despite this the death rate shows little change.
In 1942, 52 per cent of the deaths occurred in persons aged 65 years
and over.
The steady increase in the infant mortality rate during the
last four years is a matter of some concern. The chief causes of
infant deaths in 1942 were, gastro-enteritis, prematurity, pneumonia
and congenital malformations. The first and third of these are
preventable but only if young children are protected against infection
and scrupulous cleanliness is maintained in regard to their feeding
and general hygiene, An outbreak of infantile gastro-enteritis in
West Middlesex Hospital contributed to the increase of deaths from
this cause recorded in 1942.
The maternal mortality remains at a low level and there
are no indications of any adverse effect due to the present war
conditions. The still-birth rate shows little change.