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 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Twickenham]
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INFANTILE MORTALITY.
There were 51 deaths of infants under one year during
the year giving an infantile mortality rate of 26.09 per 1,000 live
births, This shows a considerable decrease on the figure of 48.02
for 1945, and compares favourably with the rote for England and
Wales in 1946, which was 43.
The following table, compiled from the official registrations, details the causes of deaths at various ages under one year of age:
| Under one week | 1 - 2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3 - 4 weeks | Total under 4 weeks | 4 weeks and under 3 months | 3 months and under 6 months | 6 months and under 9 months | 9 months and under 12 months | Total deaths umder 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALL CAUSES:- Certified | 27 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 4 | 8 | 7 | - | 51 |
| Uncertified. | - | - | - | - | - | - | -- | - | - | - |
| Smallpox | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Chicken-pox | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Measles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scarlet Fever | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Diphtheria and Croup | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Whooping Cough | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| Diarrhoea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Enteritis | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Tuberculous Meningitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Abdominal Tuberculosis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Tuberculous Diseases | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Congenital Malformations | 8 | - | - | - | 8 | 1 | - | - | - | 9 |
| Premature Birth | 9 | 1 | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| Atrophy,Debility & Marasmus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Atelectasis | 4 | 1 | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| Injury at Birth | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| Erysipelas | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Syphilis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Rickets | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Meningitis (not Tuberculous) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Convulsions. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Gastritis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Bronchitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pneumonia (all forms) | 2 | - | 1 | - | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | - | 10 |
| Suffocation (overlying) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| Other Causes | 2 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 6 |
| TOTALS | 27 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 4 | 8 | 7 | - | 51 |
An analysis of the mortality reveals that neo-natal deaths were responsible for 62.7 per cent of the total deaths,viz:
| Under 24 hours | 1 to 7 days | 1 to 4 weeks | Total under 4 weeks | Percentage total infant deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 14 | 5 | 32 | 62.7 |
| Congenital malformations, premature birth, etc, caused 26 (or 50.98%) of the total infant deaths, | ||||