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SUMMARY The Resource Allocation Working Party concluded that standardised mortality ratios are the best available indicators of geographical variations in morbidity. In this paper we give the results of a statistical analysis of the relationship between mortality and two indicators of morbidity, obtained from the 1971 census, for three age groups. The level of aggregation in the data is comparable with that at district or area level. Strong linear relationships are obtained, suggesting that it is reasonable to use mortality data in the RAWP formulae in applications at area or district level. However, this method of resource allocation should not be used in isolation from planning. A possible solution which reduces conflict between the two approaches is to incorporate mortality data in the planning indicators used to establish relative need and, in addition, to take due account of established patterns of service and local circumstances.

The relative significance of different physical processes that determine the state of vibrational excitation of the molecular constituents in the lower thermosphere has recently been discussed by Bauer et al. [1971]. Walker et al. [1969] have performed detailed calculations of the vibrational temperature of N• in this region under both normal and disturbed atmospheric conditions. Results of a similar nature are described by Bauer et al. [1971] and Kummler and Bortner [1972] and are based on a theoretical investigation by Jamshidi [1971]. The state of vibrational excitation of N• has special importance because of its influence on such atmospheric processes. as ionospheric loss rates, the heating of the ambient electron gas, infrared emission from NO, CO, and CO• resulting from near-resonance vibrational energy transfer, and the like [Walker et al., 1969; Walker, 1968; Degges, 1971]. The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate the special importance of the quenching of vibrationally excited nitrogen N• • by atomic oxygen in a direct vibration-to-translation energy transfer process in the lower thermosphere. Atomic oxygen is a major constituent in this region of the atmosphere, and recent model atmospheres [Jacchia, 1971] suggest an increase in its concentration relative to earlier models. However, its ultimate importance with regard to N2 • depends primarily on the magnitude of the energy transfer rate constant. Until recently the only information on this rate was obtained by Breshears and Bird [1968] for kinetic temperatures in excess of 3000øK. The analysis of Walker et al. [1969] neglected this N• • loss process; however, Jamshidi [1971] did investix Now at University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75230.

SummaryIn a survey in Coventry of 1079 post-natal patients, 11% (104) of married women and 46% (32) of single women stated that this birth was unwanted and emotionally distressing. The married women with unwanted births were the same age as other married women, but had substantially larger families. The single women with unwanted births were younger and all had left school at 16 years or below. Ten per cent of married women and 28% of single women with unwanted births had no knowledge of contraception and 28% of married women and 78% of single women with unwanted births had not used any contraceptive methods. Seventy-six per cent of married women and 78% of single women with unwanted births would have liked further professional advice.

The proportion of unwanted births to married women who were delivered in a district maternity hospital during a 3-month period in 1971 was computed for each ward in the administrative area. The percentage varied from 5 to 20% with an average of 10%. These results were compared with the distributions of socio-economic variables derived from the 1971 Census. Parity was shown to be the most important indicator; Kendall's rank correlation coefficient was 0-56 (/ ) <0-01). When the effect of parity was eliminated by the use of Kendall's partial rank correlation coefficient, overcrowding and family structure were shown to be statistically significant (P < 0-05).