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
Hounslow 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hounslow]
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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1970
Vital Statistics
Area and Population
The London Borough of Hounslow covers an
area of 14,469 acres and contains an estimated
population of 204,380 people which is 4,513
fewer than those found during the 1961 census
Although the population appears to be
decreasing, there were 3,287 live births
compared with 2,161 deaths giving a natural
increase of 1.127 persons
The research and intelligence unit of the
Greater London Council provides estimated
populations of all London boroughs by age
groups and those for Hounslow are
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 98 is applied the
borough's live birth rate becomes 15 6 which
is almost identical to that for England and
Wales Compared with 1969 the rate for
Hounslow decreased slightly and is similar
to the experience for the whole country.
There were 257 illegitimate live births, 32
fewer than last year which gives an illegitimate
live birth rate of 8 per cent of total live
births which is the same as that for England
and Wales.
Mid Age in years
| year | Under 1 | 1 - 4 | 5 - 14 | 15 - 64 | 65 and over | all ages | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | % | No | % | NO | % | No | % | No. | % | No. | |
| 1968 | 3,350 | 1.6 | 13,150 | 6.4 | 26,500 | 12.9 | 137,580 | 66.8 | 25,200 | 12.3 | 205,580 |
| 1969 | 3,390 | 1.7 | 13,010 | 6.3 | 27,200 | 13.3 | 136,060 | 66.3 | 25,400 | 12.4 | 205,060 |
| 1970 | 3,230 | 1.6 | 12,870 | 6.3 | 27,900 | 13.7 | 134,980 | 66.0 | 25.400 | 12.4 | 204,380 |
Since the borough was formed in 1965 the
number of live births has exceeded the number
of deaths by 7,149 but despite this the
Registrar General estimates that during the
same period the local population has decreased
by 3,170 which suggests a net outward
migration of some 10,319 people to other
areas
The natural increase of 3½ percent
occurring within five years is a local example,
although not necessarily typical, of the slow
but inexorable upward trend in the number of
people in the country as a whole
Live births
The number of live births registered during
the year was 3,287 (1,669 male and 1 618
female) giving a crude live birth rate of 16,1
per 1,000 population
Stillbirths
Stillbirths again numbered 45 which is
equivalent to the mean for those during the
previous five years
Deaths
During the year 2,161 deaths were registered,
106 fewer than for 1969 The adjusted death
rate was 11.2 which is a little less than that
for the whole country
Included in the 1,097 total male deaths are
300 occurring between the ages of 45 and 64
early to late middle age Two thirds succumbed
either to heart disease (112) or cancer (87)
One hundred and eighty two women of this age
group similarly died - again two thirds ascribed
to cancer (82) or heart disease (39)
These 482 men and women formed almost a
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