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The birth rate in 1954 showed an increase, although remaining below
that for England and Wales. This is the second consecutive year that an
increase in the birth rate has been recorded in this district, and shows a
general trend observed in many parts of the country for married people
to aim at a slightly larger family.
The death rate is higher than in 1953, and an analysis of the causes
of death shows an increase in deaths from certain specific causes. The
causes of death and the comparative rates are set out in the tables on
pages 14 and 16, from which it will be noted that cancer again shows an
increase, in particular cancer of the lung and bronchus. The rate for
deaths from cancer of the lungs, at 0.4 per 1,000 population, is higher
than the corresponding death rate from pneumonia.
Much work is still going on to establish the relationship between
smoking and lung cancer. Twelve males died from this cause, as against
one female, and although it is now generally admitted that modern
women smoke almost as much as men, it is possible that, having regard
to the ages at death in these cases, at the time the seeds of the disease
were sown, smoking was commoner amongst the male population.
Coronary disease, with 36 deaths in males and 14 in females, is very
high on the list of causes of death. This condition, together with diseases
of the arteries of the nervous system and heart diseases, account for a
considerable proportion of the total deaths.
The average age at death continues to be relatively high, which is
only to be expected in a population which has a great number of people
living over the age of 65.
Three deaths were recorded from motor vehicle accidents, as compared
with 1 in 1953. All other accidents accounted for 8 deaths, as compared
with 3 in 1953. Suicide, too, shows a marked increase, a total of 7 cases
being recorded, as compared with 2 in 1953.
The maternal mortality rate per 1,000 total births is 2.36, as compared
with 0.69 for England and Wales. The previous year, and the 5 years
previous to 1952, all showed a nil return. In 1954 there was one death
in childbirth. Having regard, however, to the total number of births
being only 424, the rate given by one death is 2.36. The mother, who
died, had every care and attention, but was suffering from a chronic
kidney disease. Considerable thought and care are given to the arrangements
by which mothers can be assured of safer childbirth, and the fact
that so few maternal deaths have occurred since the war reflects great
credit upon all the services engaged in midwifery in the district.
The infantile mortality rate shows a slight increase at 14.42 per 1,000
live births, as compared with 12.89 in 1953. Only six infants died under
the age of 1 year in 1954, out of 416 live births. On page 18 will be found
an analysis of the causes of death. It will be seen that prematurity and
abnormal congenital developments accounted for the majority of the
infant deaths.
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