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Use of a historical register in social epidemiology: child mortality in Stockholm at the turn of the 19th century

Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institute

Finn Diderichsen

Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institute

Eva Bernhardt

Demography Unit, Stockholm University

Lars Smedman

Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

This study describes the age- and cause-specific levels and social determinants of high child mortality in Stockholm around the turn of the century. The study is based on computerized individual level sociodemographic information and the death certificates of children aged 0-15 years residing in Maria parish in Stockholm during the years 1885, 1891 and 1910 (n=36 718) from a historical register (the Roteman archives). The usefulness of such data for further studies in social epidemiology is discussed. Age-specific rates and major causes of death compared well with other studies. Low social class and being born out of wedlock increased the overall risk of death in early childhood. Data appear valid and may be useful in social epidemiology. Further analyses of data from the Roteman archives may contribute to the understanding of causes behind high levels of cause- specific child mortality and trends in mortality in relation to societal change.

Key Words: child mortality • historical epidemiology • social factors.

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 26, No. 3, 166-172 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/14034948980260030501


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