Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the years 1922-23 and 1923-24, and review (1902-25) of the public health conditions and progess of Johannesburg.

  • Johannesburg (South Africa)
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the years 1922-23 and 1923-24, and review (1902-25) of the public health conditions and progess of Johannesburg. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INFANTILE MORTALITY, AND MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE MEASURES. By the term “ Infantile Mortality ” is meant the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per each one thousand births during a given period, and, in the works of a former Registrar-General for England and Wales, infantile mortality has always been regarded as a valuable test for the “ health of “ communities.” Dr. G. D. Maynard pointed out, however, that recent biometric research indicates that the intelligence and sobriety of the mother are of greater importance than sanitary conditions. M.O.H. 1922-3-4. Infant Mortality. The rate of White Infantile Mortality, that is, of deaths of White Infants under one year of age, was 155 per 1,000 births in the 4 years ended 30th June, 1908 : but in the 4 years ended 30th June, 1924, it was 90 (a reduction of 41 per cent.). For the year ended 30th June, 1923, it was 88*26, whilst for the year 1923-24 it was 81*2. In the following Table the Johannesburg figure is contrasted with those for other South African cities, for the Union of South Africa, for London and the Great English County Boroughs, for certain Continental cities, and for the very healthy dominion of New Zealand with its temperate climate and prosperous and largely pastoral population. These figures show that Johannesburg does not suffer by comparison either with the majority of the larger South African towns nor with the long established county boroughs of England and Wales. Mortality per 1,000 Births Amongst White Infants Under 1 Year of Age, in 1923. Johannesburg ... 8P2 'i Paris . 80 ' Pretoria. Capetown 76-47 72-4 Antwerp . 82 Durban East London. 67-0 88-0 > 1923-4 Amsterdam 34 Port Elizabeth Union of South Africa 10P0 74-0 , Copenhagen 77 England and Wales London 75-0 ] 69-0 - 1924 Stockholm Toronto (Canada) 00 148-9 County Boroughs of England and Wales 80-0 . New Zealand 43-8 , The continued defamation of Johannesburg as regards its White Infantile Mortality is, therefore, unjustified. In the followdng tabulation of White Infantile Mortality in the various City Districts, the figures generally are too small to base any safe conclusion upon, with the possible exceptions of Nos. 2, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 13, which may have some qualified value. Some are good residential districts, others ‘ good in parts.’ Infantile Mortality. 1920-22. 1922-24. Births. Deaths under 1 year. Rate per 1,000 Births. Births. Deaths under 1 year. Rate per 1,000 Births. District 1.—Johannesburg Proper 507 31 6P14 229 23 100-43 ,, 2.-—Braamfontein, Hospital Hill and Hillbrow ... 1,433 85 59*31 1,661 75 4515 3.—Ferreiras, Marshalls and City and Suburban 72* 30* 41666 65* 21* 323-07 ,, 4.—Newtown, Fordsburg and Mayfair 782 90 115-10 616 62 100-64 ,, 5.—Vrededorp and Locations ... 490 79 16P22 440 76 172-72 ,, 6.—Jeppes, Jeppes Extension, Belgravia, etc. ... 1.237 131 105-98 957 103 107-62 ,, 7.—Doornfontein, Troyeville. Kensington and Bezuidenhout Valley Districts ... 1,136 81 71-56 1,151 70 60-80 „ 8.—Berea, Yeoville, Bellevue and North-Eastern Districts 703 30 42-67 661 34 5P43 ,, 9.—Richmond, Auckland Park, Parktown and North-Western Districts 615 83 134-95 636 70 110 09 ,, 10.—Paarlshoop and Western Mines 138* 18* 130*44 165* 18* 109-09 ,, 11.—Central Mines (Ferreira to City and Suburban) 116* 4* 34-48 77* rr■# i 90-90 ,, 12.—Prospect Township and Eastern Mines 181* 24* 132*59 220* 12* 5454 ,, 13.—Ophirton, Booysens and Southern Districts ... 1,276 165 12931 1.170 111 94-87 Totals 8,686 851 97-97 8,048 682 84-74 * These figures are too small to base any conclusion upon.