During 1993-95 the various Barking & Havering Localities reported between 5 and 9% of births were low weight ( < 2500g ) births, and the rate of still births varied from between 5 and 9 per thousand births . About 1 - 2% of live births are below 1500g .

Taking Barkyng & Havering as a whole - the death rate ( including still births + early, late , and post neonatal deaths ) for those < 2500g is greater than 110 per thousand ; whereas for those > 2500g the death rate is ~ 4 per thousand births.                              ( Annual Statistical Report )

The perinatal mortality rates (1993/94) are 8 to 12 per 1000 births for various localities within the London boroughs.

Typical rates of occurrence for fetal alcohol syndrome and spinabifida respectively are ~0.33 and ~1 case per thousand live births.

In the Barking & Havering Localities between 23 and 37 % of women are smokers ; and up to 11% report drinking more than 15 units of alcohol per week.

B & H Localities 2, 5, 6 and 7 contain over 15% females who are obese or grossly obese, and members of social class V there are greatest users of butter, lard or dripping for frying.

Between 29 and 55 % of women are considered at risk of suffering major depression , with social classes iii - v being the most at risk.