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
Merton 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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| Principal certified Causes of Death | Age at Death | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 24 hours | Days | Months | ||||||||
| 1- 7 | 8-14 | 15-21 | 22-28 | 1- 3 | 3-6 | 6-9 | 9-12 | |||
| Prematurity | 14 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 18 |
| Congenital Malformations | 4 | - | - | 1 | - | 4 | - | - | 1 | 10 |
| Bronchopneumonia | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Birth Injuries | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| Other causes | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 4 | - | 3 | 2 | 12 |
| Totals | 23 | 6 | 2 | 2 - | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 54 | |
INFANT MORTALITY
Of the 54 infant deaths, 29 occurred in the first seven days of
life. The only one of these which was delivered at home died within
30 minutes, the cause being multiple congenital abnormalities.
The infant mortality rate of 18.35 and the neonatal mortality
rate of 10.69 per 1,000 live births compare satisfactorily with the
respective rates of 19.0 and 13.0 for England and Wales.
PERINATAL MORTALITY
The perinatal mortality rate for Merton was 21.83 per 1,000 live
and still-births thus comparing favourably with that for England and
Wales of 26.9.
MATERNAL MORTALITY
Two maternal deaths were attributed to the Authority for 1965.
One was a death in hospital in March, the cause of death being antepartum
haemorrhage following breech delivery of a full-term infant.
The second death actually occurred in November, 1964, but
since the cause of death, given as air embolism due to instrumental
abortion, was certified by the Coroner following his enquiry in 1965,
this death was attributable to 1965, thus producing an unfortunately
high maternal mortality rate of 0.68 per 1,000 live and still-births.
19