BIRTHS & DEATHS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1939, Page 8

BIRTHS & DEATHS

FIGURES FOR LAST YEAR. The annual report of the Health Department states that the Dominion death-rate in 1938 was 9.71 per thousand mean population (exclusive of Maoris) as compared with a rate of 9.08 in the preceding year. The actual deaths registered number 14,754, an increase of 1096 over the 1937 figure. Of this increase 67 per cent was accounted for by increases in deaths due to chest diseases (259), heart diseases (220), measles (159) and violence (96). •

The crude death-rate,' the report adds, reached its lowest point in 1933. Since that year it had shown a definite upward trend, a result which was to be expected with an ageing population.

Births, totalled 27,249, equivalent to a rate of 17.93 per thousand mean population. For the third year in succession the birth-rate showed a gratifying increase over the previous year. The still-birth-rate was 27.3, representing an improvement on the 1937 figure of 29.38 and the lowest figure recorded for this rate.

The report states that the maternal mortality rate last year, including deaths from septic abortion, was 4.07 per thousand live births, as compared with 3.61 in 1937. The number of septic abortions was 30 as compared with 24 in 1937. When the deaths from septic abortions were deducted the rate was 2.97.