4.1 deaths of children under one per 1,000 live births in 1999-2001 (5.6 in England)
93 hospital admissions for serious injuries in under-5s per 100,000, 1999-2000 (England, 106)
31.9 conceptions per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17 (45.6 in England)
Beds and Herts Strategic Health Authority warns comparing Hertfordshire data to that of England masks variations at district or primary care trust level. Higher rates of low birthweight in Bedfordshire (8.2) may be due to the concentration of ethnic minorities, especially in Luton (9.6).
Luton also has a higher infant mortality (8.0) than the national average.
Statistics for the Beds and Herts area are discussed in workshops with health professionals, which aim to provide information for action.
Source: Report on Health Profiles of Local Authorities in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, 12 December 2002.
