HC Deb 03 June 1980 vol 985 cc623-5W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentages of (a) all births and (b) births in National Health Service hospitals were induced in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979, respectively; and what was the perinatal mortality rates for these births.

Sir George Young

The estimated number of inductions as percentages of all deliveries in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales in 1976 and 1977, the last two years for which figures are available, was 370 per cent. and 37.7 per cent. respectively; the comparable figures for hospital inductions as a percentage of all births were 35.2 per cent. and 36.1 per cent. The perinatal mortality rate for these births is not readily available.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of congenital malformations per 1,000 total births for babies of women (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 19 years, (c) 20 to 29 years, (d) 30 to 35 years and (e) over 35 years for 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Sir George Young

The available figures are set out below. Corresponding figures for 1979 are not yet available.

1978 1978 1979*
All births—
Total (live and still) births 574,664 601,526 642,530
Perinatal mortality rate† 17 15 Not yet available
Infant mortality rate‡ 14 13
Illegitimates§
Total (live and still) births 56,078 61,336 69,960
Perinatal mortality rate† 23 21 Not yet available
Infant mortality rate‡ 20 18
* Provisional (estimated to the nearest 10).
†Per 1,000 live and still births.
‡Per 1,000 livebirths.
§Illegitimate at birth.

Numbers of congenitally malformed babies per 1,000 total births in England and Wales.

Age of Mother 1977
All ages 21.6
Under 15 37.5
15–19 22.4
20–29 21.0
30–34 21.0
35 and over 23.1
Age of Mother 1978
All ages 21.2
Under 15 27.0
15–19 22.8
20–29 20.9
30–34 19.5
35 and over 23.6

Notes:

  1. 1. Rates at age under 15 are based on very small numbers and should be interpreted with caution.
  2. 2. Figures are derived from a voluntary system of notifying congenital malformations observed at birth or up to seven days after birth and are therefore an incomplete measure of the total number of affected infants.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of births to single women in 1977, 1978 and 1979; and what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates, together with the comparable figures for all births.

Sir George Young

The information requested is not available. Statistics from birth registration on illegitimate births are available but do not distinguish whether the mother was single, married to someone other than the father, widowed or divorced.

For all births and all illegitimate births the perinatal and infant mortality rates were as follows:

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total numbers of births to the age groups (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 19 years, (c) 20 to 29 years, (d) 30 to 35 years, and

PERINATAL AND INFANT MORTAUTY RATES AND NUMBERS OF BIRTHS BY ACE OF MOTHER IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Age of mother (in years)
All ages Under 16 16–19 20–29 30–34 35 and over
1978—
Perinatal mortality rate* 15 24 21 14 14 23
Infant mortality rate† 13 16 19 13 11 14
Numbers of stillbirths 5,108 18 597 3,083 911 499
Numbers of livebirths 596,418 1,383 54,601 393,178 113,077 34,179
Total numbers of births 601,526 1,401 55,198 396,261 113,988 34,678
1979‡—
Numbers of stillbirths 5,130 20 560 3,120 960 480
Numbers of livebirths 637,400 1,330 57,690 415,040 125,580 37,760
Total number of births 642,530 1,350 58,250 418,150 126,540 38,240
* Per 1,000 live and stillbirths.
† Per 1,000 livebirths.
‡ Provisional (estimated to the nearest ten).

Infant and perinatal mortality rates by age of mother for 1979 will not be available until early 1981.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what percentage of total births were represented by (a) babies weighing 2,500

1977 1978
Babies weighing—
(a) 2,500 grams or less:
Number 38,231 39,839
Percentage of total births (live and still) 7 7
Stillbirths: Rate per thousand live and stillbirths 85.1 77.9
Perinatal deaths: Rate per thousand live and stillbirths 154.3 143.1
Neonatal deaths: Rate per thousand live births 84.4 80.8
(b) 2,500 grams or less:
Number 12,695 13,290
Percentage of total births 2.3 2.3
Stillbirths: Rate 195.5 179.3
Perinatal deaths: Rate 366.4 339.8
Neonatal deaths: Rate 232.5 219.2
(c) 1,500 grams or less:
Number 5,363 5,728
Percentage of total births 1 1
Stillbirths: Rate 303.4 276.9
Perinatal deaths: Rate 611.6 558.7
Neonatal deaths: Rate 479.7 435.5