View report page

A slight fall in the birth rate (live and still births) is recorded from 13.22 in 1953, to 13.06
in 1954.
To make an approximate allowance for the way in which the sex and age distribution
of the local population differs from that for England and Wales as a whole, the birth rate is
multiplied by a comparability factor supplied by the Registrar-General. This gives a
live birth rate of 12.75 to compare with the corresponding rate for the whole of England
and Wales, which was 15.2.
Infant Mortality
After a slight check in 1953, the fall in infant mortality was resumed in 1954—the rate
this year being the lowest yet recorded. Thirteen infants died, as compared with 21 during
1953, giving an infant mortality rate of 18.54 Per 1,000 live births, as against 29.45 in 1953.
Of these 13 deaths, 1 died at home and 12 in hospital. Ten infants (6 male and 4 female)
died within the first four weeks after birth. Table V gives the causes of infant deaths under
the age of one year. The drop in deaths due to prematurity from 9 in 1953 to 1 in 1954, is
most satisfactory. Graph A, on infant mortality rates, shows the trend of the infant mortality
rate since 1900. The infant mortality rate for England and Wales as a whole was 25.5.
Infant Mortality Rate from 1900 to 1954
11