[Report 1934] / Medical Officer of Health, Halifax County Borough.

  • Halifax (England). County Borough Council. nb2008024085.
Date:
1934
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1934] / Medical Officer of Health, Halifax County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The total male births numbered 595, the females 546, being a proportion of 1,089 males to 1,000 females. * * * * The deaths numbered 1,356 compared with 1,501 last year, 1/441 in 1932 ; 1,465 in 1931 ; 1,395 in 1930 ; 1,522 in 1929 ; and 1,286 in 1928. For 1934 the deathrate was 13.9. The deathrate for England and Wales was 11.8, and for the 121 Great Towns 11.8 per 1,000 respectively. The excess of deaths over births was 215 or 2.2 per 1,000 of the population. * * * * The deathrate may possibly rise again within the next 10 years owing to the ageing of the population. * * * * As regards Maternal Mortality it must be remembered that as the birthrate falls the proportion of first children to others increases, and since Maternal Mortality is higher with the first children the Maternal Mortality rate has a tendency to increase. There is no doubt that the falling birthrate is a factor (but not the only factor) in increasing the Maternal Mortality Rate. Many other factors (hereditary and environmental) enter into any rational consideration of the problem. The hypothesis that malnutrition per se is responsible for the high rate has not been established. The local distribution of Maternal Mortality in London during recent years negatives the proposition for Maternal Mortality is highest in the richer boroughs. Out of the 12 maternal deaths in Halifax during the period under review only two occurred in poor circumstances. Halifax has had a high rate for over 40 years, therefore the causative factors are not recent ones. As regards our efforts to reduce the rate I cannot over emphasise the great importance of ante-natal supervision. If only all expectant mothers had ■skilled ante-natal care and supervision (either by their own doctors or at the Clinics provided), how much more vital, instructive and helpful would our Maternity Service become ; and so I feel that such advice should be taken to heart ; otherwise how is our Ante-Natal Service to achieve that victory over maternal deaths and disease which only the use of these services by all expectant women can bring about ? * * * * Next year the Ministry of Health will hold an enquiry into Maternal Mortality, but it must be remembered that they will have to deal with a problem of obscure etiology and (not being magicians) it would be too much to expect them to lay their fingers upon the fundamental causes. Doubtless they will advise us as regards the expansion and amplification of the services where necessary and personally I shall welcome their counsel.