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The total number of deaths registered of persons belonging to the district and
dying within the district at all ages and from all causes was 228 (males 108 and females
120). For statistical purposes it is necessary to add to this figure the deaths of persons
ordinarily resident in the district who died in various London Hospitals, the Hillingdon
County Hospital, other Middlesex County Hospitals and elsewhere outside the district.
These "outside" deaths were 264 in number (males 141 and females 123). The total
number of deaths therefore belonging to the district is 492.
The deaths of non-Southall residents in the St. Bernard's Hospital (not included
in the above figures) numbered 250 (males 108 and females 142).
For the distribution of deaths in the various Wards see Appendix Table IV,
and for the comparison of general birth and death rates and rates of maternal
mortality, see Appendix Table V.
Births and Birth Rate (figures for 1942 are given in brackets).
The total number of births notified to the Health Department under the Public
Health Act, 1936, was 922 (921). The total number of registered births in the district
(under the Births and Deaths Registration Act—included in the notified births above)
was 422 (498). The total number of live births belonging to the district whether
occurring within or outside the district was 830 (826). The illegitimate live births were
39 (38). There were 25 stillbirths (23), and these were legitimate, with two exceptions.
It will be noted that the number of births belonging to the district was approximately
the same as in 1942. This means that the birth rate increase which was noted between the
years 1941 and 1942 has been maintained. The proportion of expectant mothers wishing
to have hospital confinement still remains high. The reasons for this fact, explained in
the Report for 1942, still obtain. The table below gives the analysis of the places of
confinement and monthly registration of births classified in Wards, is given in Appendix
Table VI. Details of abnormalities in confinements during 1943 are t0 be found in
Appendix Table XI.

Infant Mortality.
The total number of deaths under one year of age was 44. The rate per 1,000
live births was 53.01. The corresponding rate for England and Wales was 49, for London
58, and for the 148 small towns 46 per 1,000.
The infant mortality rate, while showing a decrease on die rates during the years
1938 to 1941, was only slightly lower than the rate in 1942. While this rate still appears
favourable compared with the general rate for London, there appears still to be room for
improvement when the figures for England and Wales as a whole are considered, and also
when it is considered that the infant mortality rate in New Zealand and certain other
countries, has been as low as 27 per 1,000. It must be remembered that Southall is an
industrial area, and the effects of overcrowding, long hours of work, and necessity for
shelter living at times, because of the vulnerability of the area to enemy attacks, are liable
to have an influence on the health of the expectant mother, and therefore a resulting effect
on infant mortality.
For details of cases of deaths of infants in the year see Appendix Table VII.
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