Health and social inequities in Finland and elsewhere

This review summarizes results of a number of studies on health and social inequities in Finland in comparison with other countries. Comparisons over time have been made when possible. Inequities in mortality in Finland can be compared with data from Denmark, Norway and Sweden as well as England and Wales plus Hungary. All countries show a similar relationship between mortality and level of education. No major changes in this relationship can be observed during the 1970s. Data on morbidity and perceived health complete the picture obtained on the basis of mortality data. Inequities concern various dimensions of health. Taken as a whole, the data suggest that the pattern of health inequities is more accentuated in Finland than in other Nordic countries.