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VITAL STATISTICS
POPULATION. The population of West Ham as enumerated
at the last census in 1931 was 294,278 persons, of whom
143,714 were males and 150,564 females. The RegistrarGeneral's
estimate of the resident population at the middle of
1946 was 163,730.
BIRTHS. The actual number of live births allocated to
the Borough during the year was 4,393—the highest number
recorded since 1933—of which 2,215 were of male children and
2,178 of females. Compared with 1945 this represents an
increase of 680 males and 788 females, a total increase of 1,468
live births. The birth rate for 1946 was 26.8 per 1,000 of the
population, as compared with 21.6 for the previous year. The
birth rate for 1946 is the highest recorded since 1921.
ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS. Of the 4,393 live births,
239—119 males and 120 females—were illegitimate. This is
equal to a percentage of 5.4 of the births allocated and is the
highest number recorded since 1921.
STILLBIRTHS. The number of stillbirths during the year
was 105, of which 57 were males and 48 females. Of these
2 males and 1 female were illegitimate. The stillbirth rate per
1,000 total (live and still) births for 1946 was 23 as compared
with a rate of 24 for 1945.
DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES. The nett number of
deaths allocated to the Borough for the year 1946 was 1,916
which gives a death rate of 11.7 per 1,000 of the population as
compared with a rate of 15.2 for the previous year. Of these
deaths 1,025 were of males and 891 of females. The causes of
death at all ages and at different periods of life are given in
Table I, as supplied by the Registrar-General. The chief
causes of death in order of importance were as follows: Heart
diseases, 444; cancer, 274; cerebral haemorrhage, 185;
bronchitis, 171; tuberculosis of the respiratory system, 122;
pneumonia, 79.
INFANT MORTALITY. Deaths of infants under one
year totalled 143, 78 males and 65 females, giving an infant
mortality rate of 32 per 1,000 live births as compared with 38
for the previous year. The rate for 1946, it is pleasing to note,
is the lowest on record.
Of the 143 deaths under one year no fewer than 82 or 57.3
per cent, were due to three causes. These three causes—
diarrhoea, pneumonia and prematurity—are a potent cause of
death at the beginning of life. Prematurity caused 36 deaths,
diarrhoea 24, and pneumonia 22.
MATERNAL MORTALITY. The number of women who
died in childbirth in 1946 was 7. Four of these deaths were
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