Mortality by marital status and social class in Finland during 1969--1971. Mortality from natural and violent causes.

In this paper a study of the distribution of mortality rates by social class and marital status for men and women in three age groups (25--44, 45--64 and 65--84) is presented. Natural and violent causes of death are analysed separately. The death certificates of Finnish citizens for the years 1969, 1970 and 1971 (totalling 137780) were analysed and mortality rates standarized using as reference population the data from the 1970 census. It is shown that certain combinations of social class and marital status can be considered as significant risk factors for mortality in the Finnish population.