Language-group mortality differentials in Finland: the effects of local language composition.

BACKGROUND: The higher mortality rate among the Finnish-speaking majority than among the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland is well established. The reasons for this phenomenon are only partially known. We aim to find out whether the social resources associated with the proportion of Swedish speakers in a locality result in lower mortality due to external and alcohol-related causes, and whether or not this also affects the Finnish-speaking residents.
METHODS: The register data are based on an 11% sample of Finns aged 30 years or more at the end of 1995--with an over-sample of deaths covering 80% of all deaths in the period 1996-2005.
RESULTS: Living in areas in which Swedish speakers are more prevalent has a favourable effect on mortality among Swedish-speaking females. Among the males the large difference in relative mortality between the language groups did not generally vary by area type.
CONCLUSION: We found indications that a higher concentration of Swedish speakers resulted in lower mortality in Swedish-speaking females and, to a lesser extent, in older males. The local environment is evidently an important factor and deserves attention in future research. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.