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
Twickenham 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Twickenham]
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INFANTILE MORTALITY
During the year 1941, there was a notable increase in
the number of deaths of infants under one year, i.e. 86 as
compared with 63 for the previous year. The infantile
mortality rate was 70,95 per 1,000 live births, that for England
and Wales being 59.
An analysis of the mortality reveals that neo-natal
deaths were responsible for 47.7 per cent of the total deaths , viz .
| Under 24 hrs. | 1 to 7 days | 1 to 4 weeks | Total under 4 weeks | Percentage total infant deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 9 | 19 | 41 | 47.7 |
Congenital malformations, premature birth, etc.
formed a large proportion of those deaths.
Although the infantile mortality rate is one which
fluctuates from year to year, it appears that the anxiety
through which expectant and nursing mothers passed in 1940-1941
had an influence on the rate.
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