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Infant mortality in London, 1538-1850: a methodological study.
Local Population Studies
|March 9, 2012
Summary
Infant mortality data from London
Area of Science:
- Historical demography
- Medical history
Background:
- Examining historical infant mortality data relies on records like London's bills of mortality and parish registers.
- These historical sources present significant registration challenges, impacting data accuracy.
Observation:
- Reconstitution studies, while useful, face methodological issues like corpse "traffic" between parishes and clerical errors.
- Triangulation of multiple data sources is crucial for assessing historical record completeness.
Findings:
- This study employed triangulation, comparing bills of mortality, parish registers, and probate returns.
- Analysis revealed that 20-40% of London burials were unregistered during the parish register period.
Implications:
- Underregistration significantly skews historical infant mortality rates.
- Accurate demographic data is vital for understanding past public health and societal conditions.
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