[Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Cheltenham Borough.

  • Cheltenham (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Cheltenham Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/70 (page 8)
    Infant Mortality The infant mortality rate, i.e., the number of infants who have died in the first year of life, per 1,000 live births, is 30.22 ; an increase over last year’s rate which was 29.15. Thirty-four (34) infants died in their first year of life during the year as compared with 33 in 1954. The com- parable infant mortality rate for England and Wales during the year under review was 24.9, a figure which includes every type of community from the health resort to the overcrowded slums and heavily polluted atmos- phere of the industrial city. The picture is even less favourable if we compare Cheltenham’s infant mortality rate with the average rate for the 160 large towns including London. , This rate is 25.1, so that we are still more than five points above the average for these large towns, including London. There would be no special reason to rejoice if Cheltenham with its well-favoured situation and healthy environment, equalled the national average. There is every cause for Concern that we are so far above it. Further comment on the infant mortality rate will be found in the appropriate section of the report. Diphtheria There were no notifications of diphtheria in the town during the year. The last notified case was in 1952, and the last death recorded from the disease was in 1945. Tuberculosis There has been a reduction in the number of notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis, the total number being 46 as compared with 53 during the previous year. There were 9 deaths from the disease compared with 10 in the previous year. It is interesting to note that ten years ago in 1945, there were 59 notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis and 31 deaths. The reduction in the number of new cases notified each year is proceeding more slowly both locally and throughout the country. Other Infectious Diseases There was an increase in the total number of infectious diseases notified during the year but this is of no special significance. The greatest increase was in measles which caused one death. There were twelve notified cases of poliomyelitis, seven of the paralytic type and five non- paralytic. There was one death from the disease. Maternal Mortality No expectant mothers died during the year as a result of pregnancy or confinement or of any condition associated with pregnancy or con- finement. Other Vital Statistics There has again been an increase in the population from 67,450 to 67,730 ; a small advance but one which is becoming a regular feature in the vital statistics of the town. The number of births is approximately the same as last year but the birthrate per 1,000 population (16.61), is still appreciably above the rate for England and Wales (15.0). The death- rate (12.05 per 1,000 population), although above the national average (11.7) is lower than last year (13.0).