London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Heston and Isleworth 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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It should be noted that 40 per cent of these road deaths occurred in persons
aged 65 years and over as compared with 63 per cent, for the same age group in deaths
from other accidents
Care and attention in the home in the factory and on the roads is essential
and the special proneness to accidents of the aged should be remembered

The causes of infant deaths are shown in Table V In the following table the change in the local infant mortality rate over 5 year periods from 1898 is shown:-

No of live birthsNo. of deaths under 1 yearInfant Mortality rate
1898 - 19024,369698160
1903 - 19075,264665126
1908 - 19125,383590110
1913 - 19174,66146199
1918 - 19224,32632776
1923 - 19274,33327163
1928 - 19326,05531853
1933 - 19377,12131344
1938 - 19426,91239357
1943 - 19478,21034542
1948 - 19526,68014622
1953 - 19576,15713422
19581,2642117
19591,2752117
19601,3762518
19611,4083525

These infant deaths can be viewed more closely by looking at the rates according
to age at death -
Total infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births
(deaths under 1 year) 24.9
Neo-natal mortality rate per 1,000 live births
(deaths under 4 weeks) 19.2
Early neo-natal mortality rate per 1,000 live births
(deaths under 1 week) 17,8
These rates show the concentration of infant deaths into the early weeks of
life This year 70 per cent of these deaths occurred before the baby had reached the
age of one week Methods of prevention of congenital malformations, prematurity and
associated conditions are still being sought
The infant mortality rate of illegitimate infants was 29.0 compared with 24.9
for legitimate infants On medical grounds alone, any increase in illegitimate births
is to be deplored
It is thought that the same factors are probably in operation in relation to
stillbirths and early infant deaths, and that it is a natter of degree or chance
whether the child dies before or soon after birth This loss of infant life can be
expressed collectively in what is called the perinatal mortality rate (stillbirths
and deaths under 1 week combined per 1,000 total live and still births). For 1961 the
Borough perinatal mortality rate was 36.2
MATERNAL MORTALITY One death was due to causes associated with pregnancy and
childbirth Maternal deaths are usually divided into those due to septic infection and
those due to diseases and other conditions associated with pregnancy and labour, and
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