Infant survival in Norway and Sweden 1985-88

In recent years, considerable attention has been attached to the disquieting fact that infant survival is much lower in Norway than in Sweden. In the present study, comprising all live single births in Norway and Sweden during 1985-88, the observed infant mortality was 1.5 times higher in Norway than in Sweden. The largest difference between Norway and Sweden was found in infants of young mothers with high birth order. Thus for the second births of mothers aged less than 20 years the observed mortality ratio of Norway to Sweden was 1.8. The infant mortality ratio decreased with increasing maternal age for all birth orders, and for the second births of mothers aged 35 years or more the mortality ratio was 1.0. The higher infant mortality in Norway was evident throughout the first year of life, with the highest mortality ratio observed at 6-8 months of life. Adjustment for maternal age, birth order and geographical region did not alter the observed infant mortality ratios. In both countries, the highest risk was found among infants of young mothers. this suggests a need for a more extensive preventive health care system directed at young mothers during their pregnancy and the infancy period.