Infant mortality in Denmark and Sweden. A comparison based on data in two national registries.

OBJECTIVES

To study in detail the differences in infant mortality between Denmark and Sweden.

STUDY DESIGN

Data retrieved from national health registers on infant death rates were compared for 1980-1988, supplemented with a study on the impact of socio-economic conditions in 1985-86 (Denmark) or 1986 (Sweden).

RESULTS

Even after stratification for maternal age, parity, and socio-economic group, the Danish mortality rate was higher in all age-at-death intervals except for stillbirths. Maternal age-parity distribution was more favourable in Denmark, the socio-economic distribution in Sweden. The most marked country differences was seen in young women. The difference in the rate of perinatal deaths but not of later deaths is explainable by a more favourable birth weight distribution in Sweden than in Denmark.

CONCLUSIONS

The studied variables do not explain the difference in mortality risk but it may be due to life style factors so far not identified.