Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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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.
INFANT MORTALITY. During 1962 there were 29 deaths of children under the age
of 1 year. This represents an infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births of 20.5 as
compared with 20.7 for England and Wales. The causes of infant deaths are shown in
Table V.
In the following table, the change in the local infant mortality rate over 5 vear neriods from 1898 is shown:-
No. of live births | No. of deaths under 1 year | Infant Mortality rate | |
---|---|---|---|
1898-1902 | 4,369 | 698 | 160 |
1903-1907 | 5,264 | 665 | 126 |
1908-1912 | 5,383 | 590 | 110 |
1913-1917 | 4,661 | 461 | 99 |
1918-1922 | 4,326 | 327 | 76 |
1923-1927 | 4,333 | 271 | 63 |
1928-1932 | 6,055 | 318 | 53 |
1933-1937 | 7,121 | 313 | 44 |
1938-1942 | 6,912 | 393 | 57 |
1943-1947 | 8,210 | 345 | 42 |
1948-1952 | 6,680 | 146 | 22 |
1953-1957 | 6,157 | 134 | 22 |
1958 | 1,264 | 21 | 17 |
1959 | 1,275 | 21 | 17 |
1960 | 1,376 | 25 | 18 |
1961 | 1,408 | 35 | 25 |
1962 | 1,417 | 29 | 21 |
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) 20.5
Neo-natal mortality rate per 1,000 live births
(deaths under 4 weeks) 16.0
Early neo-natal mortality rate per 1,000 live births
(deaths under 1 week) 13.4
These rates show the concentration of infant deaths into the early weeks of
life. This year 65 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 Nil compared with 21.9
for legitimate infants.
It is thought that the same factors are probably in operation in relation to
stillbirths and early infant deaths, and that it is a matter 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 1962 the
Borough perinatal mortality rate was 29,2.
MATERNAL MORTALITY. No death was due to causes associated with pregnancy and
childbirth.
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