London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
East Ham 1909
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
This page requires JavaScript
19
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
This is measured by the ratio of deaths under 1 year of
age to 1,000 registered births. It amounted to 95 during the
past year as compared with 104 in 1908.
The rate for England and Wales during 1909 was 109, and
for the 76 Great Towns 118, per 1,000 births registered.
The following Table gives the number of infant deaths anc the rate per 1,000 births during the past five years.
| Year. | Number of Infant Deaths. | Rate per 1,000 Births. |
|---|---|---|
| I905 | 478 | 129 |
| 1906 | 473 | 129 |
| 1907 | 386 | 105 |
| 1908 | 368 | 104 |
| 1909 | 334 | 95 |
Although the Notification of Births Act (1907), which was
framed to combat the high rate of Infant Mortality, by providing
for earlier notification of all births to the Medical Officer
of Health, has not been adopted in this Borough, arrangements
have been made with most of the midwives and nurses practising
in the District by which this information is obtained.
The Matron of Sister Katherine's Branch of Maternity
Nurses also sends me prompt information of the large number
of cases attended by the Staff under her charge.
Printed instructions on the care and feeding of Infants are
sent to all the cases notified, and, as far as time permits, the
School Nurse, who also acts as Health Visitor, calls at the
houses where it is considered that her help and influence are
likely to be most useful.