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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1968
Vital Statistics
Area and Population
The London Borough of Hounslow covers an
area of 14 469 acres and contains an estimated
population of 205,580 people, which is 3,313
fewer than those found during the 1961 census
The mid-1968 population estimate takes
account of the 10 per cent sample census held
in April 1966 and therefore cannot be compared
with the estimates given for 1966 and 1967
Although the population appears to be
decreasing there were 3 335 live births
compared with 2 362 deaths giving a natural
increase of 973 persons

Live births
The number of live births registered during the
year was 3 335 (1,708 male and 1,627 female)
giving a crude live birth rate of 16 2 per 1:000
population
Apart from other causes both birth and
death rates will vary according to the age and
sex distribution of the population and to
enable a valid comparison with other areas,
the Registrar General provides area comparability
factors When the birth comparability
factor of 0 97 is applied, the borough s live
birth rate becomes 15 7 compared with a
provisional figure of 16 9 for England and
Wales Compared with the previous year the
local and national live birth rates each shew
small decreases of 0 5 and 0 3 respectively.
The number of illegitimate births shews a
further decrease from 306 during 1967 to 280 in
1968, which is 8 4 per cent of all live births and
is now slightly less than the national percentage
of 8 5 This decrease is reflected in the reduction
in the admissions of unsupported mothers to
mother and baby homes for which the council accepts
financial responsibility. During 1968 these numbered
37 and is a dramatic decrease compared with the 79
who were admitted during the previous year.
Stillbirths.
Stillbirths numbered 58 compared with 51, 40 and
33 recorded for 1965, 1966 and 1967 respectively
Deaths
As a result of the eighth revision of the International
Statistical Classification of Diseases, injuries and
Causes of Death, it is not possible to make comparisons
with deaths ascribed to certain causes in
previous years. A quarter of all deaths were of
people aged between 65 and 74 years and 43 per
cent were 75 years of age or over.
Infant Mortality
Sixty infants died before reaching the age of one
year, 39 were male and 21 female The infant
mortality rate was 18 0 per 1.000 live births and
identical to that for the country as a whole The
illegitimate infant death rate was 25 which is
almost half as great again as that for legitimate
infant deaths.
Maternal mortality
One death was ascribed to abortion,
Infectious Diseases
International certificates of vaccination and
inoculation against smallpox, yellow fever and
cholera
Applications for authentication dealt with by
the medical officer of health numbered 4,949
compared with 4,171 for 1967 and 12,415 during
1966
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