BACKGROUND: This study examined changes in the educational gradients in neonatal and postneonatal mortality over a 20-year period in the four largest Nordic countries. METHODS: The study populations were all live-born singleton infants with gestational age of at least 22 weeks from 1981 to 2000 (Finland 1987-2000). Information on births and infant deaths from the Medical Birth Registries was linked to information from census statistics. Numbers of eligible live-births were: Denmark 1 179 831, Finland 834 299 (1987-2000), Norway 1 017 168 and Sweden 1 971 645. Differences in mortality between education groups were estimated as risk differences (RD), relative risks (RR) and index of inequality ratio (RII). RESULTS: Overall, rates of infant mortality were in Denmark 5.9 per 1000 live-births, in Finland 4.2 (1987-2000), in Norway 5.3 and in Sweden 4.7. Overall the mortality decreased in all educational groups, and the educational level increased in the study period. The time-trends differed between neonatal and postneonatal death. For neonatal death, both the absolute and relative educational differences decreased in Finland and Sweden, increased in Denmark, whereas in Norway a decrease in absolute differences and a slight increase in relative differences occurred. For postneonatal death, the relative educational differences increased in all countries, whereas the absolute differences decreased. CONCLUSIONS: All educational groups experienced a decline in infant mortality during the period under study. Still, the inverse association between maternal education and RR of postneonatal death has become more pronounced in all Nordic countries.
BACKGROUND: This study examined changes in the educational gradients in neonatal and postneonatal mortality over a 20-year period in the four largest Nordic countries. METHODS: The study populations were all live-born singleton infants with gestational age of at least 22 weeks from 1981 to 2000 (Finland 1987-2000). Information on births and infant deaths from the Medical Birth Registries was linked to information from census statistics. Numbers of eligible live-births were: Denmark 1 179 831, Finland 834 299 (1987-2000), Norway 1 017 168 and Sweden 1 971 645. Differences in mortality between education groups were estimated as risk differences (RD), relative risks (RR) and index of inequality ratio (RII). RESULTS: Overall, rates of infant mortality were in Denmark 5.9 per 1000 live-births, in Finland 4.2 (1987-2000), in Norway 5.3 and in Sweden 4.7. Overall the mortality decreased in all educational groups, and the educational level increased in the study period. The time-trends differed between neonatal and postneonatal death. For neonatal death, both the absolute and relative educational differences decreased in Finland and Sweden, increased in Denmark, whereas in Norway a decrease in absolute differences and a slight increase in relative differences occurred. For postneonatal death, the relative educational differences increased in all countries, whereas the absolute differences decreased. CONCLUSIONS: All educational groups experienced a decline in infant mortality during the period under study. Still, the inverse association between maternal education and RR of postneonatal death has become more pronounced in all Nordic countries.
Authors: Walter Mazzucco; Rosanna Cusimano; Maurizio Macaluso; Claudio La Scola; Giovanna Fiumanò; Salvatore Scondotto; Achille Cernigliaro; Giovanni Corsello; Giuseppe La Torre; Francesco Vitale Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-10-19 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Laura Dallolio; Valentina Di Gregori; Jacopo Lenzi; Giuseppe Franchino; Simona Calugi; Gianfranco Domenighetti; Maria Pia Fantini Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2012-08-16
Authors: M Delnord; K Szamotulska; A D Hindori-Mohangoo; B Blondel; A J Macfarlane; N Dattani; C Barona; S Berrut; I Zile; R Wood; L Sakkeus; M Gissler; J Zeitlin Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2016-01-10 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Cindy M Padilla; Wahida Kihal-Talantikit; Verónica M Vieira; Séverine Deguen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-06-22 Impact factor: 3.390