NATIONAL CENTER Series 3 

For HEALTH STATISTICS Number 9 

$I%)PERTY
 OFTHE


PUBLICATIONSBRANCH 

EDITORIAL LfBRARY 

VITAL and HEALTH STATISTICS 

ANALYTICAL STUDIES 

Infant and Perinatal 

Mortality 

in Denmark 

Statistical description and analysis of long-term trends in 

stillbirth, infant, and perinatal mortality in Denmark; discussion of risk factors associated with infant mortality 

from an obstetrician’s and from a pediatrician’s point of 

view; “and description of demographic characteristics, the 

Danish health system, and registration. 

Washington, D. C. November 1967 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Public Health Service 

John W. Gardner Wil Iiam H. Stewart 

Secretary Surgeon General 
Public Health Service Publication No. 11100-Series 3-No. 9 

?or sale by tlm Supedutendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 20402- Prfce 45cents 
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

THEODORE D.WOOLSEY,DiTf?CZbT


PHILIP S. LAWRENCE, SC.D., Associate Director


OSWALD K. SAGEN, PH.D.,, Assistant Director /oT Health Statistics Development


WALT R. SIMMONS, M. A., Acting Assistant Director for Research and Scientific Development


ALICE M. WATERHOUSE, 

JAMES E. KELLY, 

LOUIS R. STOLCIS, 

DONALD GREEN, 

OFFICE OF HEALTH 

M. D., Medical Consultant 

D. D. S., Dental Advisor 

M. A., .Executive O//icer 

lnl’o~a~ion o//ice~ 

STATISTICS ANALYSIS 

I WAO M. L40RIYAMA, PH. D., Director 

DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS 

ROBERT D. GROVE, PH. D., l)irec~o~ 

DIVISION OF HEALTH INTERVIEW STATISTICS 

ELIJAH L. WHITE, A. M., Di,ectof 

DIVISION OF HEALTH EXAMINATION STATISTICS 

ARTHUR J. MCDOWELL, Director 

DIVISION OF HEALTH RESOURCES STATISTICS 

SIEGFRIED A. HOERMANN, Director 

DIVISION OF DATA PROCESSING 

LEONARD D. Mc GANN, Director 

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000-Series 3-No. 9 

Library ‘of Congress Catalog Card Number 67-61849 
FOREWORD


This report is one of a group of analytical studies designed to 

delineate the perinatal and infant mortality problem in the United States. 

Of particular interest is the fact that the United States is not alone in 

experiencing an important change in the infant mortality trend. For a 

number of other countries as well, infant mortality is no longer declining at its former pace. 

Although our primary concern is with the problem of perinatal and 

infant mortality in the United States, it was felt that much could be 

learned from the experience of other developed countries with advanced 

medical systems. In several of these countries, levels of infant mortality which are lower than that in the United States have been achieved. 

The National Center for Health Statistics arranged with a number of 

investigators to prepare comprehensive reports on perinatal and infant 

mortality in their own countries. Contracts were negotiated with investigators in Denmark, England and Wales, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, and the United States. Four reports evolving from these contracts 

appear in Series 3 of the Vital and Health Statistics reports: 

No. 4, “Infant and Perinatal Mortality in the United States” 

No. 5, “Infant and Perinatal Mortality in Scotland” 

No. 6,	 “International Comparison of Infant and Perinatal Mortality: 

The United States and Six West European Countries” 

No. 8, “Infant Mortality Problems in Norway” 

The present report for Denmark is the fifth in this group of studies on 

perinatal and infant mortality. 

This report was prepared in four parts. Part I and the appendixes 

by Mr. P. C. Matthiessen focus primarily on a demographic description 

of Denmark and a statistical analysis of fertility and perinatal and infant 

mortality. Professor Dyre Trolle analyzes in Part II the trends in 

stillbirth and mortality in the first week of life from an obstetrical 

point of view. In Part III, Dr. Zachau-Christianson views the trend in 

mortality after the first week of life as a pediatrician. Professor 

Trolle and Dr. Zachau-Christianson discuss the future of infant mortality in Denmark in Part IV. Throughout the report, emphasis is placed 

on the period in which the infant mortality rates in the United States 

began to level off, i.e., 1951-62. The methodology, findings, and conclusions are those of the investigators. 

Iwao M. Moriyama, Ph.D. 

Director 

Office of Health Statistics Analysis 
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CONTENTS 

Foreword


Part I. Statistical Description and Analysis


Age at Death -------------------------------------------------------


Cause of Death -----------------------------------------------------


Birth Wei@t-----------------i


Sex


Age atDeath


Cause ofDeath


Birth Weight


Marital Status of the Mother


Age atDeath


Cause ofDeath


Birti Weight


Interrelationships Among Infant Mortality, Mother’s Age, and Total-Birth 

Order


Total-Birth Order and Mother's Age-------------------------------


Age at Death ----------------------------------------------------


Cause ofDeath


Birth Weight


Occupation of FamilyHead


Cause ofDeath


Birth Weight


Seasonal Variation


Area of Residence


Discussion


Part H. Stillbirth and Mortality During First Week of Life From an Obstetrical Pointof View --------------------------------------------------


Demographic Factors


Medical Factors


Factors Before Pregnancy


Factors During Pre~ancyandDelivery


Factors During the First Week of Life


Low BirthWeightInfants


Factors in the Decreasing Rates During the Perinatal Period


Perinatal Mortality, 1941-49-----------------------------------------


Perinatal Mortality, 1950-54-----------------------------------------


Perinatal Mortality, 1955-62-----------------------------------------


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CONTENTS—Con. 

Part III. Pediatric Considerations on Mortality After the First Week of Life-


Pediatric Care


Mortality After the First Week of Life --------------------------------


PartIV, ~eFuture


Acknowledgment


References


Map of Denmark


Detailed Tables


Appendix I. Definitions andRe@stration


Definitions


Re@stration


Appendix II. Fertili~-------------------------------------------------

Appendix III. Demographic Description of Denmark


Area and Climate


Growth of Population


Sex, Age, and Marital Status


Economic Activity and Place of Residence


Size of Households and Distribution of Dwellingsby Facilities


Standard of Living


Probability ofDeati


AppendixIV. Organization of the Danish HealtiSystem


Page 

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35 

60 

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IN THIS REPORT detailed statistics aye pyovided on changes in infant 

and peyinatal moytality in DenmaYk since the eayly 1900 ‘s. The analysis 

focuses on sizable decyeases in late neonatal aad postneonatal mortality, 

compared with smaller decyeases in perinatal moytality. Changes in 

paramete?% of infant and peyinatal moytality trends aye discussed in detail, Risk factom associated with infant mortality aye furthey analyzed 

by an obstetrician and by a pediatrician. Changes in the stvwcture of 

population, the socioeconomic situation, provisions for maternal and 

child care, and the Danish health and vital statistics systems aye descvibed. 

During the 20th centwy the infant moWality rate in DenmaYk has declined 

rather consistentlypom 134.2 infant deaths pey 1,000 live births in 1901 

to 20.0 in 1962. The p~edominant decline since 1901 has occun-ed in moYtatity of infants 7 days- llmonths of age. Movtality in the fhwt 7 days of 

life did not stayt to fali until after 1940. Likewise, the decline in stillbirth and peyinatal moytaiity did not start until aftey 1940. The gyeatest 

reductions for stillbirth, perinatal, and infant moytality in DenmaYk have 

been since 1951; wheyeas, it was duying this peyiod, 1951-62, that the 

decline in infant mortality in the United States began to diminish. A considerable part of the decline has been foy deaths caused by infective 

diseases and diseases of the YespiYatoYy and digestive systems. Limited 

reductions have occurred fo~ congenital malfon?tations, birth injuyies, 

and immatw-ity. 

Prematwity contributes heavily to pevinatal and infant moytality and 

J%twre declines of significance will depend upon contyoi of low biyth 

weight infants. Close cooperation of obstetricians and pediatricians toward the goal of deceasing peyinatal and infant moytality is uyged. 

SYMBOLS 

Data not available 

Category not applicable . . . 

Quantity zero -

Quantity more than O but less than 0.05---- 0.0 

Figure does not meet standards of * reliability or precision 
INFANT AND PERINATAL MORTALITY 

IN DENMARK 

P. C. Matthiessen, Dyre Trolle, and B. Zachau-Christianson, Univemity of Copenhagen 

PART 1. STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS 

AGE AT DEATH 

Throughout the 20th century. in Denmark a 

large decline in the infant mort~lity rate has 

taken place, from 134.2 per 1,0(30 live births in 

1901 to 20.0 in 1962 (table 1 and fig. 1). In 1960-

62 infant mortality in the Faroe Islands and in 

Greenland was 24.7 and 70.9 infant deaths per 

1,000 live births, respectively. When these two 

areas are included with the rest of Denmark the 

total infant mortality rate in 1960-62 is 22.2 per 

1,000 instead of 21.1. ne small difference made 

in the infant mortality rates by including these 

two areas did not seem to justify using them in 

this report. In addition to the fact that the statistics from the Faroe Islands and Greenland are 

less complete, the annual proportion of live birtlis 

only amounts to about 2.5 percent of the births 

in the rest of Denmark, 

The large reduction in infant mortality is 

most obvious. in the beginning of the century, and 

then again after 1930, and since then has continued to this day (1962). The decline in mortality 

varies greatly within each age at death (fig. 2). 

Mortality during the first calendar day of life 

did not start falling until after 1940. At this point 

it should be emphasized that deaths in the first 

day are based on the calendar day of life, and not 

ah[r. hlntthiessen is Assistant Professor of Mathematical 

Statistics, Professor ‘Ilolle is Professor and Chairman of the 

Depnrtmcmt uf Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dr. Zachau. 

Christinnsen is Senior Resident in the Department of Pediatrics. 

on a 24-hour day. Although mortality from 1 

through 6 days of life also did not start to fall 

until after 1940, it has changed only slightly 

since then. From the beginning of the century a 

marked decline has occurred in mortality of 

infants 7 days-11 months of age. Considerable 

decline for all ages in infant mortality has occurred from 1951. 

A large part of infant mortality today occurs 

during the first week of life, and table A shows 

the distribution of deaths in the first week of life 

by age. In 1949-51 as well as in 1959-61 more 

T 

YEA!? 

Figure 1. Infant mortality rates:Denmark,1901-62.

------

i 

. 

l— tder I day 

1-6 cloys 

-—- 7days tol month 

WE-at l-5months 

;-llmonths 

I I I I I I I 3 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 

YEAR — 

Figure 2. Infant mortality rates by age: Denmark, 1901-62. 

than four-fifths of these deaths occurred within per 1,000 total births. Both stillbirth andperinatal 

the first 3 days. In this age group there seems mortality rates have gone down throughout thl> 

to be a decline only within the first 2 days of 

life. b[E& rrote:TheWorld Health organization recommends u~~f 

Table 2 illustrates the change by sex in still- af the term “fetal death” for all pregnancy terminations wbic I 

show, no evidence of life after complete expulsion or extrac. birthb and perinatal mortality since 1901. Peri- tion from the mothe~ in European vital statistics the terr I 

natal mortality in any one year is calculated as “stillbirth” is used to denote such terminations at 2S or nror(~ 

the number of stillbirths plus deaths under 7 days weeks of gestation~ 

2 
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Table A. Number and raEe	 of deatha in the first week of life, and percent change, by 

age: Denmark, 1949-51 and 1959-61 

I I 1 

Number 

Agel 

1949-51 ] 1959-61 1949-51 1959-61 to 1959-61 1 

Under 7 days 3,723 ] 3,196 157.7 141.1 -11 

under 1 day----------------------- 1,748 1,185 74.1 52.3 -29 ---.--- ---.--- ------- ------- - 1,016 923 43.0 40.7 ; ::;s 420 514 17.8 22.7 +;: 

3 days 198 254 8.4 11.2 +33 

4 days ----.--- ---.---- 148 126 -11 

5 days 107 110 ::: ::$ I-9 

6 days 86 84 3.6 3.7 +3 

lBased on calendar days since b ‘th. 

‘Deaths in first week of life per 10,000 

century. From 1901 through 1962 the numberof 

stillbirths per 1,000 total births declined from 

24.2 to ll.9, while from 1921 through 1962 perinatal mortality decreased from 44.6 t024.9. As 

with the infant mortality rate, iftheFaroeIslands 

and Greenland were included with the rest of 

Denmark, the total stillbirth rate would not be 

changed appreciably—from 12.3to 12.5in1960-

62. The relative decline for both the stillbirth 

and perinatal mortality rates is much smaller 

than that for infant mortality. It is characteristic 

that the decline did not really start until after 

1940. The greatest decline has taken place from 

1951 through 1962—35 percent for the stillbirth 

rate and 27 percent for the perinatal mortality 

rate. 

CAUSE OF DEATH 

Table 3 presents the development ofdifferent 

causes of infant death from 1931 through 1962. 

The distribution for the period 1951-62 has been 

made on the basis of the Manual oftlzelntewatioual Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injwies, atzd Causes of Death (Sixth Revision for 

1~51-57, and Seventh Revisionfor 1958-62). Table 

B shows the international (ICD) code numbers 

which have beenusedwithin the 16 groups, 

In general infant deaths have been groupedin 

thesame way for the period 1931-50 asfor 1951-

I 

live births. 

62. During 1931-50 two different classifications 

for cause of death were used, namely, thelnterscandinavian Nomenclature of Causes of Death 

of 1926 from 1931-40 and the International List 

of Causes of Death of 1938 from 1941-50. The 

difference between these two lists is limited; 

therefore, data for the period 1931-50 are fairly 

comparable. However, transition to the period 

1951-62 is reliable only for the first five and the 

last cause-of-death groups. 

A comprehensive view of the development of 

infant and neonatal mortality by cause is shown 

in table B where the relative changes during the 

periods 1931 to 1940, 1941 to 1950, and1951to 

1962 are given. The decline in infant mortality 

since 1931 is primarily due to the decline in 

deaths caused by infective diseases and diseases 

of the respiratory and digestive systems, which 

by 1962 are of minor importance. Thesediseases 

appear mainly in the later part of the first year 

of life and explain the marked decline in mortality 

at the later ages. 

During 1951-62there were considerable declines for almost every cause of death. Herealso 

the decline for infective diseases and diseases of 

the respiratory and digestive systems is especially noticeable. 

Neonatal mortality has fallen less than total 

infant mortality, because it is particularly dominated by suchcauses as congenital malformations, 

3 
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Table B. Percent change in infant and neonatal mortality rates, by cause of death:


Denmark, from 1931 to 1940, 1941 to 1950, and 1951 to 1962


Infant mortality Neonatal mortality


Cause of deathl	 From From From From From From


1931 1941 1951 1931 1941 1951


1;:0 1;;0 1%2 16:0 1:;0 1%2 

All causes -31 -44 -31 -15 -23 -17


1.	 Infective and parasitic 

765-768) -48 -68 -62 -20 -53 -27 

Influenza and pneumonia-------(48O-493,763) -56 -65 -74 -42 -54 -38 

All other diseases of respiratory system; 

diseases of the circulatory system; and 

certain diseases of ear and mastoid 

process (390-394,400-475,500-527) -47 -56 -75 -71 -75 -67 

diseases-(OOl-138,340-344,690-695, 

4.	 Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, and


colitis, including diarrhea of


newborn (543,571,572,764) -65 -71 -62 -60 -81 -89


5. All other diseases of digestive


system (530-542, 544-570, 573-587) -38 -25 ~:; -64 -83 +25


Congenital malformations.---------(75O-75g) +3 -29 -28


Birth injuries-------------------(76O,761) +8 -21 -28 :: -24 -E


Intracranial and spinal injury at


birth ------(760) -37 ..- -36 

Other birth injury-----.------------(76l) +100 --” -72 1;: Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis----(762) +20 +20 

11.	 Hemolytic diseases of newborn 

(erythroblastosis)-------------------(770) -20 -11


12.	 Immaturity with mention of any other


subsidiary condition, or
 unqualified---------------------(774,776) -13 -9 -24 -L3 -7 -19


13.	 Other defined and ill-defined diseases


peculiar to early infancy---(769,771-773) +4 -42 -49 -30 -35 -51


14.	 Symptoms and ill-defined 

conditions (780-793, 795) -53 -68 +17 :;; -86 -50 

15. All other diseases (Residual) -72 -65 -20 +29


16. Accidents (E800-E999) -12 +50 -62 -9 -1-27 -i; 

lThe Seventh Revision of the Internationa~ classification of Diseases (1955)was
 used to classify causes of death for 1958-62; th. Sixth Revision of the International


Classificationof Diseases (1948) for 1951-57;the InternationalList of Causes of Death


of 1938 for 1941-50; and the InterscandinavianNomenclature of Causes of Death of 1926


for 1931-40.


birthinjuries,
 andimmaturitywhichhaveunder­


gone limitedreductions.
 Detailsofneonataland


postneonatal
 mortalityare shownintables4and


5. Among secondarycausesofinfantdeath,
 im-


maturitywas dominantin1960-62.


From tableC one can geta comprehensive


view of the structureof cause of deathamong


stillbirths in theperiod1956-60.Difficulties
 in


labor(Y34),placental andcordconditions
 (Y36),


and diseases of fetusand ill-defined
 causes


(Y39)cover a considerable partofstillbirths.
 It


must be pointedout,however,thatalmostallof


the lastgroup (Y39)is comprisedofill-defined


causes.

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Table C. Average annual number and rate of stillbirths, by sex and cause of death:


Denmark, 1956-60


Cause of death~ Both Both Male Female
 sexes sexes


Average annual number Rate per 10,000


total births


All causes (Y30-Y39) 1,151 619 532 150.5 L57.2 143.3


Y31 6 3 < M ;:; M 

Diseases and conditions of pregnancy 

and childbirth (Y32) 55 28 27 7.2 7.1 7.3 

A~obsg&i.onof toxf.csubstance from 

-.-”---- (Y33) 

Difficulties in labor (Y34) 155 9; 6; 20.; 22.; 17.; 

Other causes in mother (Y35) 

Placental and cord conditions-----(Y36) 34: 19: 14; 4;:: 4::! 4:;: 

B’irthInjury (Y37) 

Congenital malformations of fetus-(Y38) 1:: :; :: 12:: 1;:: 1;:: 

Diseases of fetus and ill-defined 

Chronic disease in mother Y30 16 9


Acute disease in mother [1


causes (Y39) 429 225 204 56.1 57.1 55.0


Syphilis (Y39.0)


Infection other than syphilis,


erythroblastosLs,and other cause
 originated in the 

fetus (Y39.1,Y39.2,Y39.3) 33 18 15 4.3 4.6 4.0 

Maceration, cause not 

specified (Y39.4) 212 112 100 27.7 28.4 26.9 

Other ill-defined or unspecified 

cause------------------(Y39.5,Y39.6) 184 95 89 24.1 24.1 24.0 

lThe Seventh RevLsionof tieInternational Classificationof Diseases (1955> was used


to classify causes of death for 1958-62; and the Sixth Revf.sf.on
 of the Int&national


ClassLfi.cati.on
 of Diseases (1948) for 1951-57.


BIRTH WEIGHT 

Data by birthweightas showninthisreport


are derivedfrom two sources.One sourceofin-


formationis the midwives’birthregisters.
 The


distribution
f livebirthsby birthweighttaken


from thissource is publishedannuallyby the


NationalHealthService.Tbe secondsourceof


information is the birthcertificates
 from which


statistical
 informationis abstractedand for­


warded to the Statistical
 Department.Published


databy specified
birthweightare notavailable


from thissource,buttwo specialstudies
using 

records for 1954-55 and 1959 are reported here 

for the first time, 

l’hedistributio no flivebirths by birth weight 

in1959 was such that 6.9percent ofall live births 

weighed 2,500 grams or less: 

Percentage Birth weightin gyams distribution 

Allweights 100.0


1.000or less 0.2 

1,001-1,500------------------- 0.7 

1,501-2,000------------------- 145 

2,001-2,500------------------- 4.5 

2,501-3,000------------------- 18.2 

3,001-3,500------------------- 37.3 

3,501-4,000------------------- 27.7 

4,001-4,500------------------- 8.4 

4,501-5,000------------------- 1.3 

5,0010rmore 0.2 

The average birth weight was 3,320 grams. In 

calculating average birth weight, weights under 

5 
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Table D. Number and percentage distribution of live births and stillbirthsand still-


birth rates, by birth weight: Denmark, 1960-62


[Databasedonmidwife
registers]


Total I Live Still- still-
 Birth weight El!zEIE
 births births births births


Number Percentage distribution Ratel


Total--------------- 12.9


-==1~


1,000 grams or less 891 544 347 389.5


1,001-2,500 grams 13,995 12,660 1,335 9:.:


2,501 grams or more 218,332 216,998 1,334 .


lRate per 1,000 total births of specified birth weight.


1,000and over 6,000grams were estimatedas


950and6,100grams,respectively.


Table Dshowsthe distributionof
 livebirths


and stillbirths
 by birthweightin 1960-62.This


distribution
 is based on datafrom themidwife


registers anddiffers from thosepublished
by the


Statistical Department.Itappearsthat5
 .7percent


of allliveborninfantsweighed2,500grams or


less.Thetablealsoshowsthemarkeddifferences


inthedistributionfstillbirths
 by birthweight.


The correlation
between birthweightand


infantmortalityis elucidated in theanalysis
of


birthweightsforalllivebirthsandinfant
deaths


in 1954 and 1955 (tableE). Unfortunately,
 the


classification
 ofweightisnotquiteinaccordance


withthe classification
 of 1959;forexample,the


interval 2,000-2,499
grams is used for1954-55


data,whereas 2,001-2,500grams was used in


1959.As it was not possibleto correctthis


discrepancy,the distributions
 by birthweight


Table E. Percentage distribution of live births and infant mortality rates, by sex
 and birth weight: Denmark, 1954-55


Both Birth weight Male I?emale sexes 

Percentage distribution Rate per 1,000 live births


of live births of specified group


Total---------------------- 100.0 100.0 100.0 25.7 29.2 22.1 

999 grams or less 0.2 0.2 1,000.0 1,000.0 1,000.0 

1,000-1,499 grams 0.6 0.6 658,6 742.3 567.3 

1,500-1,999 grams 280.5 343.1 215.5 

2,000-2,499 grams ;:; i:: 85,2 108.5 64.4 

2,500-2,999 grams 14.2 12.1 T 26.6 33.4 21.2

3,000-3,499 grams 35.3 32.6 

3,500-3,999 grams 30.8 32.8 

4,000 grams or more-------------- IrI 12.4 13.7 10.9 

14.1 17.2
 II 
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in 1~54-55 and in 1959 are not quite comparable. Table F. Infant mortality rates, by age 

However, this discrepancy is of little importance, and birth weight: Denmark, 1954-55 

since the main purpose here is to illustrate the 

relationship between birth weight and infant mor- 2,499 2,500 

tality. Age Total grams grams or less or more The average birth weight for 1954-55 was 

3,405 grams (calculated by estimating birth 

weights under 1,000 grams to be 950, and those Rate per 1,000 live 

over 4,000 to be 4,250 grams). It is notable that births of specified 

birth weight 

of the 5.6 percent live births which weighed 2,499 

grams or less, 215.2 per 1,000 died inthefirst Under 1 year- 25.7 215.2 14.5 

year of life.Among theremaininglivebirths


weighing2,500 grams or more, only 14.5 per 1,000 Under 1 day:--- 113.0 3.0 

1-6 days~------ :;: 65.9 2.8 

died. Over half the deaths among births under 7m:::;ll - 2,500 grams occurred on the first calendar day 10.2 36.3 8.7 

of life, contrasted with about one-fifth in the 

weight group of 2,500 grams or more (table F). 1

Based on calendar days since birth. 

Table G. Infant mortality rates, by birth weight and cause of death: Denmark, 1954-55


Cause of death
 m‘Otal 

Rate per 10,000 live


births of specified


birth weight


All causes 257.4 2,152.: 145*1 

lnfecixi.ve and parasitic

diseases (001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768) 7.8 ;:.; 

763) 25.3 � 2::! 

All other diseases of respiratory system; diseases of the 

circulatory system; and certain diseasea of ear and maatoid 

process (390-394,400-475,500-527) 8.1 18.6 7.5 

Gastritis, duodentis, enteritis, and colitis, including 

diarrhea of newborn (543, 571, 572, 764) 8.1 22.3 7.2 

All other diseases of digestive 

system -------.---(530-542, 544-570, 573-587) 

Congenital malformations ----(750-759) 4::: 15::: 3::; 

Birth injuries (760, 761 30.7 186.6 21.5 

Intracranial and spinal injury at birth---------------(76O 27.1 162.1 19.1 

Influenza and pneumonia------------------------(48O-493, 

1 

Other birth injury.------- ----(761) 24.5 

Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis----------------------(762)4::: 472.2 1;:2 

Hemolytic diseases of newborn (erythroblastosis)--------(77O) � 33.8 3.9 

Immaturity with mention of any other subsidiary condition, or unqualified------------------------------------(774,776) 31.3 531.7 1.7 

Other defined and ill-defined diseases peculiar to early 

infancy (769, 771-773) 39.4 593.4 6.5 

Symptoms and ill-defined conditions------------(78O-793,795) 5.2 5.0 

All other diseases -----(Residual) 1::: 

Accidents (E8OO-E999) 2:; 10.5 ::: 

7 
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Roughly 75 percent of the deaths of infants 

weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth were 

caused by postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis, 

immaturity, and other defined and ill-defined 

diseases peculiar to early infancy (table G). 

On the other hand, these same causes comprised 

only almut 15 percent of the deaths in the higher 

weight group. 

SEX 

Age at Death 

Tables 6 and 7 present infant mortality for 

the different ages at death from 1901 through 

1962 for males and females, respectively. It 

appears from the tables that the decline in mortality has run parallel for males and females, 

the decline for each sex being greatest in the 

later part of the first year of life. Infant mortality for males was higher for each age of death. 

Earlier examinations have shown that the relation 

between the mortality for males and that for females has been constant at least since 1931.1 

This corresponds with the fact that the percent 

decline in mortality has remained of the same 

magnitude for both sexes. Therefore, all the observations from 1931 through 1962 can be pooled 

to show the percent excess of male over female 

infant deaths: 

Under 1 year 32 

Under 7 days --------------------------- 37 

Under 1 day------------------------- 34 

1-6 days ---------------------------- 40 

7 days to 1 month ----------------------- 25 

1-5 months --.---- 33 

6-11 months 21 

These data were derived using amethodforobtaining optimal estimates used to characterize a 

population during a specified period of time. 1 

The excess mortality of males reaches a 

maximum during 1-6 days and a minimum during 

6-11 months after birth. The summary excess 

infant mortality amounts to 32 percent. For the 

period 1931-62 excess mortality for males 

amounted to 16 percent for stillbirths and 25 percent for perinatal deaths. 

Cause of Death 

The reduction in infant mortality for individual causes of death follows the same pattern 

for each sex, namely a marked decline for infective and parasitic diseases and diseases of 

the respiratory and digestive systems. Although 

the amount of excess male mortality differs from 

cause to cause, the decline in infant mortality 

has taken place in a uniform manner, so that the 

proportion of excess has remained substantially 

the same throughout 1931-62. 

Because of the changing nomenclature of 

causes of death, it is possible to group all dead 

infants from 1931-62 only for cause-of-death 

groups 1-5 and 16 (table B). For the remaining 

causes, only the period 1951-62 can be used 

(table H). Within the various cause groups there 

were considerable variations from the average 

male excess infant and neonatal mortality of 32 

and 35 percent, respectively. For infective and 

parasitic diseases excess mortality for males 

appeared to be higher during the first month of 

life than during the entire first year. In the case 

of all other diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems, symptoms and ill-defined conditions, accidents, and “all other diseases” the 

situation was opposite. As far as the rest of the 

causes are concerned, the excess was almost 

equal for mortality during the first month of life 

and during the total year. 

Table C presents the distribution of stillborn males and females by cause of death for the 

period 1956-60. Since distribution of the large 

number of ill-defined causes is the same for 

males and females, the table shows that a considerable proportion of excess mortality among 

males was due to placental and cord conditions 

(Y36). 

Birth Weight 

The distribution of liveborn males and females by birth weight shows that 5.3 percent of 

male and 6.0 percent of female births weighed 

under 2,500 grams in 1954-55 (table E). The 

averag birth weights were 3,459 and 3,347 grams ‘1 for males and females, respectively. 

From one weight group to another mortality 

for males was higher than that for females. The 
------------------------------------------------

---------------------

---------------------------

------------------------------

------------------------

------------------------------ -------------------------------

--------------------------------------------

--------- -----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-----------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

l~e‘H. Percent difference of male over female infant and neonatal mortality rates,


by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62


Cause of deathl


= 

Percent difference


All causes +32 +35


Xnfective and parasitic
 diseases (001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768) +17 +46


Influenza and pneumonia (480-493, 763) +26 +22


All other diseases of respiratory system; diseases of the


circulatory system; and certain diseases of ear and mastoid


process (390-394,400-475,500-527) +40


Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, and colitis, including


diarrhea of newborn (543, 571, 572, 764) +42 +40


All other diseases of digestive


system (530-542, 544-570, 573-587) +80 +57


Congenital mal$ormations2 (750-759) +19 +24


Birth injmies-"--------------------------5------------(76O,
 761) +71 +70


Intracranialand spinal injury at birth-----------------­
(76O) +72 +73


Other birth imjury~-------------;-----------------------­
 (761) -i-59 +55


Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis=-------------5----------
 (762) +40 +42


Hemolytic diseases of newborn (erythroblastosis)-----------(77O) +84 +83


Immaturity w~th mention of any other subsidiary condition, or
 unqualified------------------------------------------(774,
 776) +26 +26


Other de~ined and ill-defined diseases peculiar to early


infancy*---------------------------z------------­
 -(769, 771-773) +35 +35


Symptoms and ill-d~fined conditions=-------------­
(780-793, 795) +56 +14


All other diseasesk-----------------------------------(Residual) +35 +9


Accidents (E800-E999) +26 +11


‘The Seventh Revision for the InternationalClassification of Diseases (1955) was
 used to classify causes of death for 1958-62; the Sixth Revision of the International


Classificationof Diseases (1948) for 1951-57; the InternationalList of Causes of


Death of 1938 for 1941-50; and the InterscandinavianNomenclature of Causes of Death


of 1926 for 1931-40.


21951-62.


Table J. Percentage distribution of live births by sex and birth weight: Denmark, 1959


Birth weight Female Birth weight Male Female


Total----------------- 100.0 100.0 

1,000 grams or less 0.3 0.3 3,501-4,000 grams 30.6 24.6


1,001-1,500 grams 0.6 0.7 4,001-4,500 grams 10.5


1,501-2,000grams 4,501-5,000 grams 1.8 ::;


2,001-2,500 grams ;:? ::2 5,001-5,500 grams 0.2 0.1 

2,501-3,000 grams 15.7 20.8 5,501-6,000 grams 0.0 

3,001-3,500 grams 34.7 39.9 6,001 grams or more-----


9


-1 
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----------------------------

-----------------------

----------------------------

----------------------

----------------------------------------------------------

---------- --------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------

----------------------------------------

----------------------------

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------

---------------------

----------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------

highestexcess mortalitywas in the weight


group 2,000-2,499grams (68 percent)and the


lowestwas intheweightgroup2,500-2,999
 grams


(26 percent).A more detaileddistribution
 by


birthweightforlivelmrnmales and femalesin


1959isshown intableJ.Thisdistribution
 makes


possiblea more accurate calculation
 of the


averagebirthweight,whichwas 3,379grams for


male and 3,256grams for femalebirths.
Itcan


be seen that6.5and 7.4 percentoftheliveborn


males andfemalesweighed2,500grams or less.


MARITAL STATUS OF THE MOTHER 

Age at Death 

Infantmortalityfollowsthe same general


trendfor babiesborn inandoutofwedlock,de­


cliningthe most in the laterpartof thefirst


year of life(table8).However, m. . .


illegitimate infants ishigheratallages.


and thisexcessmortalityincreasednoticeably 

during 1942-47. 1 After 1947 it stabilizedat a


levellowerthanduring1942-47,yetatonehigher


thanduring1931-41.For thisreasoninfant
 deaths


from 1951through1962havebeenusedtoindicate


percentexcessmortalityof illegitimate
 infants


foreachage:


Under 1 year 58


Under7 days 77


Under 1 day-------------------------83


1-6 days 73


7 daysto1 month 62


1-5 months 24


6-11 months ----”


The trendduring1931-62for stillbirth
 and


perinatalmortalityby legitimacyis shown in


Table K. Percent	 difference in infant mortality rates for illegitimate over le~itf,­


mate births, by cause of death; Denmark, 1951-52


Percent
 Cause of death difference


All causes 1-58


Infective and parasitic diseases (001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768 +17
 Influenza and pneumonia (480-493, 7631 +21
 All other diseases of respiratory system; diseases of the circulatory


system; and certain diseases of ear and mastoid


process (390-394,400-475,500-527) +44


Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, and colitis, including diarrhea of


newborn-----------------"--------------------L---------
 (543, 571, 572, 764) +49


All other diseases of digestive system----------(53O-542,544-570, 573-587 +9


Congenital malformations --(750-759


Birth injwies---------------------------------------------------(76O,
 7611 +52


Intracranial and spinal injury at birth - 760 +47


Other birth injmy [1
761 +90


Postnatal asphyxia and atelectaais -.----------(762) +107


Hemolytic diseases of newborn (erythroblastosis)----------------------(77O) -23


Imnaturi.tywith mention of any other subsidiary condition, or
 unqualified-----------------------------------------------------(774,
 776) +116


Other defined and ill-defined diseases peculiar to early


771-773 +75 

Symptoms and ill-defimed conditions -----(780-793, 795 +:: 

All other diseases (ResidualI 

Accidents (E800-E999) +109 

infancy-----------------------------------------------------(769,


lThe seventh Revision of the Internationalclassification of Diseases (1955) was 

usedto classify causesofdeath for 1958-62; and the Sixth Revision (1948), for 1951-57.


10 

2 
----------

---------

--------------------------

-----------------------

--------------------------

-------- ------- -------- ---

--------------------------

---------------------

table 9. There was a considerable decline for 

both legitimate and illegitimate stillbirths and 

perinatal deaths. Still, during 1951-62 illegitimate infants had a higher mortality—20 percent 

higher in the stillbirth rate and 48 percent higher 

in the perinatal mortality rate. 

Cause of Death 

Mortality among both illegitimate and legitimate infants declined the most for deaths from 

infective and parasitic diseases and diseases of 

the respiratory and digestive systems. Forpractically every cause of death, during 1951-62 

illegitimate infants showed a marked excess mortality, which was particularly prominent for postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis, immaturity, and 

accidents (table K). 

Birth Weight 

The distribution by birth weight of infants 

born in 1954-55 indicates that 5.3 and 9.5 percent of the legitimate and illegitimate infants, 

respectively, weighed less than 2,500 grams. The 

average birth weights were 3,418 grams for 

legitimate and 3,227 grams for illegitimate babies. 

Mortality among liveborn illegitimate infants 

per 1,000 illegitimate live births was higher for 

all weight groups: 

Legitimate Illegitimate 

Total - 24.8 38.8 

Under 2,500 grams- 211.5 244.6 

2,500 grams 

or more 14.3 17.1 

The higher total mortality for illegitimate infants 

is, therefore, not solely due to the comparatively 

greater number of liveborn illegitimate infants 

weighing less than 2,500 grams. 

INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG 

INFANT MORTALITY, MOTHER’S 

AGE, AND TOTAL-BIRTH ORDER 

Total-Birth Order and Mother’s Age 

Earlier studies have shown that infant mortality is influenced by mother’s age and parit y.~ 

However, these two factors are so closely interrelated that it is difficult to determine how much 

is contributed by each of the factors. In only a 

very few cases is it possible to analyze, for 

instance, the change in infant mortality at increasing maternal age for a fixed total-birth 

order. In most cases one has to be content with 

information which makes possible only an examination of the variation of mortality at increasing 

mother’s age, whereby the distribution by birth 

order changes. Table L shows the percentage 

distribution of total births in 1951-53 by age of 

mother and total-birth order, which includes all 

previous live births, stillbirths, miscarriages, 

and abortions. 

Age at Death 

Infant mortality decreases from birth order 

1 to 2, then increases for higher orders (table 

10). This general trend is found in mortality for 

ages up to 1 month; whereas mortality for ages 

over 1 month increases after the first preemancy. 

Furthermore, the relative difference between 

mortality of the lowest and highest birth orders 

is greatest in the last part of the first year of life. 

As seen in the following data for 1954-55, 

the relationship between maternal age and infant 

mortality per 1,000 live births is rather weak: 

All ages 25.7 

Under 20 years 24.4 

20-24 years 25.6 

25-29 years 23.0 

30-34 years 25.1 

35 years Andover 33.0 

11

-------------------

-------------------------

------------------------

-------------------------

------------------------

------------------------- ----------------

--------

-------

--------

-------

--------

--------

! 

Table L. Percentage distribution of total births, by total-birth order and age of 

mother: Denmark, 1951-53 

Age of mother 

Total-birth order 

All Under 20 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40 years 

ages years years years years years and over 

Percentage distribution 

Total — 

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

First 33.0 83.8 52.3 26.7 12.4


Second 29.4 14.7 ;;.; 36.8 28.1 1::$ J::


Third 17.9 21.2 26.8 23.9 17.0


Fourth ::: : 9.3 16.0 19.6 17.5


Fifth ::: 0.0 ;.? 3.7 8.4 13.1 13.9


Sixth and over 5.6 0.2 2.3 8.3 19.4 34.8


There does not seem to be a significant increase Cross-tabulation of stillbirths by age of


in mortality until mother’s age 35yearsandover. mother and total-birth orderis shown in tableN.


The decline inthestillbirth rate tiom 1931- For the total and for each birth order the still33 to 1960-62 amounted to about 50 percent. It birthrate decreases frommothersunder 20years 

was greatest for first births, 56 percent, and old to mothers 20-24 years old, and increases 

smallest for the highest order, 22 percent (table for older mothers. Second births show asmaller 

M). stillbirth rate than do first births for each 

mother’s age group. Stillbirths per 1,000 legitimate and per 1,000 illegitimate total births at 

Table M. Stillbirth rates, by total-birth fixed mother’s age andbirthordershow considerorder: Denmark, selected years, 1931-62 able excess mortality for illegitimate births. 

Total-birth L960- 1951- 1941- 1931-

order 1962 1953 1943 1933 Cause of Death 

‘The connection between birthorderand cause 

______ 

Rate per 1,000 total of death for 1960-62 isshown in table 11. Fora 

order 

pears to be strongly related to birth order. In 

general, infants of birth orders 4 and higher 

Total-- 12.3 18.3 21.7 24.2 have a greater chance of death. It is important 

First 

Second 

12.5 20.9 

13.4 

24.9 

14.9 

28.6 

16.6 

to note that for some causes of death (in particular, birth injuries, postnatal asphyxia and 

Third 1::: 15.8 19.4 17.4 atelectasis, and immaturity with mention of any 

Fourth 14.3 19.2 23.2 22.8 other subsidiary condition, or unqualified), there 

births

birth

of specified number of ~auses of death, infant mortality ap. 

Fifth 

Sixth and 

19.1 21.4 22.4 25.9 is a lower mortality rate for birth order 2 than 

over 26.6 32.2 33.3 34.0 for 1. In these cases, mortality increases as 

birth order increases after the second birth. 

12 
--------------------

--------------------------

------------------------- ------------------

-------------------------

--------------------------

-----------------

------------------

------------------

---------------------

------------------

------------------

--

-------------------------

Table N. Stillbirth rates, by total-birth order and age of mother: Denmark, 1951-53


Age of mother 

Total-birth order 

All Under 20 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 $ldy:e; 

ages years years years years years 

Rate per 1,000 total births of specified group


Total 18.3 16.5 14.0 16.0 19.0 28.8 42.5 

First 20.9 17.5 17.2 22.3 34.3 55.8 61.9 

Second 13.4 10.3 10.2 12.2 16.0 25.5 45.4 

Third--”.---” 15.8 20.4 10.0 13.6 15.9 24.4 32.4 

Fourth 19.2 12.1 14.9 17.1 24.5 41.8 

Fifth 21.4 22.8 21.9 15.8 24.3 31.0 

Stxth and over 32.2 18.9 20.1 22.7 34.5 48.2 

Table O. Percentage distribution of live births, by age of mother, legitimacy, and


birth weight; and average birth weight by age of mother and legitimacy: Denmark,


1954-55
 — 

Age of mother


Legitimacy and birth weight I


Al1 IIUnder 20 20-24 25-29 30-34 35 years


ages years years years years and over


Percentage distribution


Total-------------------------- 100.0 100.0 I 100.0 

2,499 grams or less


2,500 grams or more------------------

100.0 

7m

II 100.0 Iloo.ol 100.0 1100.0 I 100.0 

2,499 grams or less


2,500 grams or more------------------ 9;:; 9;:< 9::; 9;:; 9;:: 9;::


Illegitimate 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0


2*499 grams or less 11.1 

2,500 grams or more------------------ 9::; I 9::; 9::; 9!:? 88.9 I 9::2 

Average birth weight in grams


Total-------- 3,405 II 3,256 13,34213,426 13,468 1 3,512


Legitimate -.------.---------------- 3,418 3,277 3>352 3,431 3,474 3,519


Illegitimate 3,227 3,208 3,214 3,264 3,232 3,317


13

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-----------

----------------------------------

--------------------------------

-----------------------------

------------------------------------

----------------------------

---------------------------------

-------------------------------

----------------------------

------------------------------------

Tab:e P. Infant mortality rates, by legitimacy, birth weight, and age of mother: Denmark, 1954-55


Age of mother


Legitimacy and birth weight


Total


2,499 grams or less-----------------------------
 2,500 grams or more .-----------------


Legitimate


2,499 grams or less----------
-----------------.-


2,500 grams or more ---------...................-


Illegitimate


2,499 grams or less-----------------------------


2,500 grams or more


All Under 20 20-24 25-29 30-34 35 years


ages years years years years and over


Rate per 1,000 live births of specified group


25.7


215.2


14.5


24.8


211.5


14.3


38.8


244.6


17.1


24.4


195.7


9.1


20.5


180.0


7.3


33.0


224.0


13.1 a-%-k-w 

Table Q. Percentage distribution of live births, by total-birth order, legitimacy, and birth


weight; and average birth weight by total-birth order and legitimacy: Denmark, 1954-55


Legitimacy and birth weight


Total


2,499 grams or less----------------------------


2,500 grams or more


Legitimate


2,499 grams or less----------------------------


2,500 grams or more .........-------------------


Illegitimate


2,499 grams or less----------------------------


2,500 grams or more


Total


Legitimate ------------------.......------------


Illegitimate --------------------.-.-..”...-----


Total-birth order


6 and
 Total 1 2 3 4 5
 over


Percentage distribution


100.O 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

9::: 9!:; 9::: 9::; 9;:: 9i:; 9::?


100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0


9;:; 9;:: 9$: 9::: 9M 

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

10.1 11.1 10.6 

f 9::! 9!:; 89.9 88.9 89.4 

Average birth weight in grams


3,405 II 3,29013,41913,470 ]3,505 13,524 13,571


3,418 3,304 3,420 3,475 3,509 3,530 3,578


3,227 3,201 3,243 3,277 3,346 3,341 3,373


14

-------------------------

-----------------

----------------------

-----------------

--------------------

-----------------

Table R. T.nfant mortality rates, by total-birth order, legitimacy, and birth weight: 

Denmark, 1954-55 

Total-birth order 

Legi.&hnacy and birth weight 

Total 

2,499 grama or less 

2,500 grama or more -----------------

Legi,thate 

2,499 grams or less 

2,500 grams or more -----------------

illegitimate 

2,499 grams or less 

2,500 grams or more -----------------

Birth Weight 

Total 1 2 3 4 5 

Rate per 1,000 live births of specified 

6 and 

over 

Oup 

39.3 

313.2 

25.3 

39.0 

321.9 

25.2 

47.4 

206.9 

28.6 

25.7 

215.2 

14.5 

24.8 

211.5 

14.3 

38.8 

244.6 

17.1 

25.6 21.8 25.6 

194.9 200.2 224.0 

13.5 1201 15.7 

23.7 21.2 25.2 

186.6 193.7 2;;.: 

12.9 11.9 � 

37.9 39.2 39.7 

229.3 306.6 223.7 

17.2 15.1 19.1 

27.9 33.1


2:;.; 251.8 

� 19.6 

27.7 32.5


268.2 246.2


15.3 19.7


36.5 52.9


321.4 347.8


14.0 16.2


As faras all live births are concerned,birth 

weight increases with increasing mother’s age 

(table O). The proportion of live births less than 

2,500 grams is especially reduced from mothers 

of ages under 20 years to those 25-29 years. 

Futhermore, the average weight at birth islower 

for illegitimate infants for all ages of mothers, 

since the proportion of live birthsles sthan2,500 

grams is ,greater among illegitirnat ebirths. The 

relative increase in infant mortality atincreasing 

maternal age intervals takes place primarily 

among live births weighing 2,500 grams or more 

(table P). 

Average birth weight is increased at higher 

birth orders (table Q). The proportion of live 

births under 2,500 grams decreases noticeably 

from the firstto third birth orders ,butincreases 

thereafter. The relative increase in mortality 

after the second birth occurs primarily among 

infants of 2,500 grams or more (table R). At 

constant maternal age by birth weight and constant total-birth order by birth weight, mortality 

is, as arule, considerably higher among illegitimate live births. 

OCCUPATION OF FAMILY HEAD 

Cause of Death 

In table 12 data have been gathered to show 

infant mortality among different occupational 

groups bycause ofdeath. Considerable differences 

appear from occupational group to group. While 

salaried employees and persons self-employed outside agriculture show that ahout 21.0 

per 1,000 of the liveborn infants die within the 

first year of life, laborers both in and outside 

agriculture show 35.O and 31.0, respectively, and 

the domestic workers show 43.4 (mainly illegitimate children). In general, each individual cause 

of death appears more frequently intheoccupational groups with the higher overall infant mortality, i.e., laborers in agriculture, forestry, and 

fishing, and domestic workers. 

15

--------------------------------

------- --

-----

-----

-------- -------- -------- -------

-----------------------------------

-------- ----------------- --------

----------------

-----

-----

-------- --------- ----------------

----------------------------------- � �� 

� � � 

Table S. percentage dis:-ibution of live births and infant !nortality rates, by birth 

wei,ght and occupation of family head; and average birth weight by occupation of family-head: Denmark, 1954-55 -

I


Occupation of family head 

Total 

Self-employed in manufacturing, 

construction, and commerce -.-----

Self-employed in professional services 

Salaried employees and public servants 

Self-employed in agriculture, forestry, 

and fishing 

Laborers (excluding agriculture)-----------

Laborers in agriculture, forestry, and 

fishing 

Domestic workers, unknown, and unspecifiedTotal 

Self-employed in manufacturing, 

construction, and commerce 

Self-employed in professional services 

Salaried employees and public servants 

Self-employed in agriculture, forestry, 

and fishing 

Laborers (excluding agriculture)-----------

Laborers in agriculture, forestry, and 

fishing 

Domestic workers, unknown, and unspecifiedBirth Weight 

Table S shows the distribution of live births 

in 1954-55 by birth weight for the various occupational groups, and also mortality for liveborn children weighing 2,500 grams or more and 

less than 2,500 grams. Based on infant mortality 

the rank of the different occupational groups 

was, with one exception, the samein 1954-55as 

in 1951 and 1953. Theonlydifference isthat, while 

children ofself- employedinprofessional services 

had the lowest infant mortality rate in 1954-55 

2,499 2,500 

Cotal grams grams \verage birth 

or less or more weight 

Percentage distribution Grams of live births 

100.0 5.61 94.4 

100.0 

100.0 N 95.0 

95.1 

100.0 6.4 93.6 

100.0 3.8 96.2 

100.0 6.5 93.5 

100.0 5.0 95.0 

100.O 8.9 91.1 

Rate per 1,000 live births 

of specified group 

25.7 215.2 14.5 

20.8 194.1 

17.8 202.4 

22.3 182.5 

24.9 263.2 

26.8 199.0 

33.3 279.1 

44.0 261.5 

3,405 

3,419 

3,368 

3,345 

3,563 

3,354 

3,447 

3,263 

,.. 

. . . 

.,, 

.*, 

.0. 

they had the second lowest in1951 and1953. The 

proportion oflive births weighing less than 2,500 

grams at birth varied from one occupational 

group to another. It was smallest among selfemployed in agriculture and greatest among domestic workers and “unknown.’’T hehighestand 

lowest average birth weights were found in the 

same two groups, respectively. 

The differences, with regard toinfantmortality, from occupational groupto group aremost 

apparent among livelmrn children of2,500 grams 

or more. Mortalitv for liveborn infants wei~himz , . 

16 

..0 
less than 2,500 grams at birth was 29 percent 

higher among domestic workers and unknown occupations than among self -employed in professional services. At higher birth weights infant 

mortality was 173 percent higher. 

SEASONAL VARIATION 

The variation in infant mortality throughout 

the year for different ages at death is shown in 

table T. When analyzing seasonal variation of infant mortality by age at death, special calculations 

must he performed in order to minimize the 

effect of changing numbers of live births under 

risk. Deaths under 1 month are related to the 

number of live births in the same calendar month. 

However, infant deaths from 1-5 months in age 

for a particular calendar month are related to 

the number of live births in the previous 5 

months. For instance, deaths which occurred in 

December are related to live births in JulyNovember. Similarly, infant deaths of ages 6-11 

months are regarded in relation to live births of 

the previous 6-11 months. 

For deaths from 1-11 months in age there 

is a pronounced seasonal variation. Mortality 

reaches a minimum in the summer months and a 

maximum in the winter months. Stillbirths and 

perinatal deaths show a similar seasonal variation, although it is much less pronounced than 

that for deaths after the first month of life (table 

u), 

The distribution of live births in 1954-55 by 

birth weight shows the smallest proportion of 

live births less than 2,500 grams in August, 4.9 

percent. The highest proportion was in the winter 

months—6,S percent in January. The highest 

average birth weight, 3,433 grams, occurred in 

October. 

AREA OF RESIDENCE 

The differences in infant mortality among 

the Capital, provincial towns, and rural districts 

cThe C’apr?a/ is composed of 3 completely urban muni.cipulitics--Copcmhagen, Frederiksberg, and Gentofte; pPovizciaZ 

toww~, of S8 completely urban towns and cities; and ruraZ di.strlrt,s, of 1,260 municipalities, some ofwhlch are partly urban. 

In 1!)60 about 35 percent of the population in rural districts 

lived in suburban and urbnni zed areas of 1,000 inhabitants 

and more. 

are small especially in recent years (table 13). 

Nevertheless, rural districts seem to show a 

slightly lower mortality. Infant mortality by age 

at death shows that mortality during the first 

week of life was lowest in the rural districts, 

whereas mortality aftev the first week of life 

was usually highest. Although in recent years 

the Capital has had a slightly lower rate of 

stillbirths, there is little difference among 

the three areas (table 14). 

In order to examine a possible connection 

between degree of urbanization and infant mortality, the 88 provincial towns of the country have 

been divided into groups by number of inhabitants 

(table W). Examination of each group indicates 

that the size of town has apparently no influence 

on the infant mortality rate. 

Further comparison of infant mortality in 

these three areas is shown in table 15. Here infant deaths in 1960-62 have been distributed by 

cause of death and age. In the first week of life 

the higher mortality in the Capital compared with 

that in rural districts and provincial towns is 

mainly due to congenital malformations, birth injuries, and postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis. On 

the other hand, influenza and pneumonia and, again, 

congenital malformations cause higher mortality 

in the provincial towns and rural districts after 

the first week of life. 

DISCUSSION 

Statistical appraisal of the decline in infant 

mortality after 1930 is especially a matter of 

illustrating whether the decline is due to the improved standard of living and medical progress 

or is due merely to changes in the composition 

and number of the births by sex, parity, residence, 

et cetera. Examination of this composition leads 

to the conclusion that distributions by sex, marital 

status, single or multiple births, and month of 

birth give small variations which have had only 

minor influence on the infant mortality. (See 

Appendix II for discussion of fertility.) The same 

is the case with changes in the mother’s residence 

caused by urbanization, since the geographic variation of mortality is very slight. 

Great changes, however, are seen in the distribution by birth order and today there is a much 

smaller number of births of higher birth orders, 

17 
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------

------

Table T. Infant mortality rates, by age and month of death: Denmark, 1960-62


I I I 

Under Under, 1-61 7 days to 1-5 6-11
 Month of death 7 daysl 1 day- days 1 month~ months months


Rate per 10,000 live births of specified month


January 148.8 53.6 95.2 17.5 9.6 3.5


I?ebruary 138,4 45.4 93.0 29.2 8.9 3.6


March 140.6 45.1 95.5 20.4 8.4


April 107.9 45.8 62.1 15.8 8.2 N


May------------------------------- 130.1 52.1 78.0 14.1 2.2


June 140.6 50.5 90.1 24.5 ::; ;.:


July 148.7 56.1 92.6 14.9 4.4


August 133.8 47.4 86.4 19.3 4.2 2:0


September 127.0 50.3 76.7 22.3 ;.; 2.7


October 160.4 52.4 108.0 23.8 2.2


November 149.9 55.0 94.9 22.5 7:0 2,2


December 147.4 49.3 98.1 25.8 9.2 2.9


-------------------------leased
 on calendar days since birth.


Table U. Stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates, by month of death: Denmerk,


selected years, 1931-62


1960-62 1951-53 1941-43 1931-33


Month of


death Still- Perinatal Still- perinatal Still- perinatal Still- per-nata~


birth mortality birth mortality birth mortality birth mortality


rate rate rate rate rate rate rate rate


Rate per 1,000 total births of specified month


Total- 12.3 26.0 

3anuary--- 14.0 28.7 

February-- 13.0 26.6 

March 11.9 25.8 

April 10.5 21.1 

May------- 12.5 25.3 

June 12.6 26.5 

July 11.4 26.1 

August---- 12.4 25.6 

September- 12.1 24.6 

October--- 11.8 27.6 

November-- 12.4 27.2 

December-- 13.1 27.7 

18.3


20.1


20.2


18.1


17.0


18.3


17.2
 T
 16.9


17.3


16.8


17.5


19.4


20.4


34.3 21.7 39.5 24.2 45.4 

37.5 25.5 46.7 26.8 50.8 

36.5 23.5 42.7 26.7 47.2 

33,8 21.9 38.9 22.5 44.1 

32.8 21.2 38.4 22.8 42.9 

32.9 21.7 39.7 21.5 42.9 

33.7 22.0 38.1 24.6 48,7 

33.2 20.2 39.7 23.9 43.5 

33.2 18.6 37.0 22.5 42.9 

30.7 19.8 36.0 22.2 41.1 

34.3 21.3 38.6 26.8 47.5 

36.1 23.7 41.3 24.7 46.7 

37.1 21.5 39.0 26.8 48.1 

18

---------------------

which have thehighestmortality. In itself
this cause a declineof only5 percentfrom 1931-35


changecausesa declineinthemortality. Calcu- to 1960-62,whereas the realdeclinetotaled
70


lationsshow, however, thatthe change would percent.


Table W. Stillbirth, perinatal, and infant mortality rates, by age and size of town:


provincial towns, Denmark, 1960-62


I 

Perinatal Stillbirth
 mortality rate
 rate


Rate per 1,000 total


births of specified


size of town


Size of town


Total


Infant mortality rate


=lF=l==


Rate per 1,000 live births


of specified size of town


27.3 1 12.6


I


25.5 12.7


26.3 10.7


28.9 13.9


27.5 12.4


27.8 13.3


28.5 11.9


26.2 10.8


26.4 I 13.0
 1 

22.3


19.9


24.9


23.1


23.4


21.3


23.3


23.3


20.9


14.9 7.4


12.9 7.0


15.7 g.?


15.1 8.0


15.2


14.3 ::!


16.8


15.5 7:8


13.5 7.4


Under 2,000---------------------


2,000-3,999---------------------


4,000-5,999---------------------


6,000-9,999---------------------


10,000-19,999-------------------


20,000-29,999-------------------


30,000-49,999-------------------


50,000 or more------------------


lBased on calendar days since birth.


19

PART Il. STILLB RTH AND MORTALITY DURING FIRST WEEK


OF LIFE FROM AN OBSTETRICAL POINT OF VIEW


The reasons for the decline in the relative 

number of stillbirths and deaths up to the age of 

1 year from 1901 to 1962 are not only manifold, 

but also intermixed, sometimes positively correlated, sometimes negatively. Thus, it is hardly 

possible to determine the proportional importance of each single factor. However, to facilitate discussion, the reasons have been divided 

into two main groups—demographic and medical 

factors. 

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS 

In a country like Denmark the population is 

homogeneous and has changed little for years. 

With very few exceptions, everyone belongs to the 

Lutheran State Church. In spite of growing urbanization during the last 30 years, after 1943 there 

have been only small differences in infant mortality among the three geographical groupings— 

the Capital, the provincial towns, and the rural 

districts. The size of town does not seem to have 

influenced the mortality in anyway. (See Appendix 

III for detailed demographic description of Denmark.) 

Economy, social standards, occupation, upbringing, and education are more or less knit 

together and, likewise, are connected with family 

size and the size and sanitary standard of the 

dwelling unit: the better the conditions, the less 

the mortality. Alilieu, upbringing, and education 

influence pregnant women, so that the better the 

background. the better the outcome of pregnancy.s 

hIarital status has a visible influence on infant mortality. Although unmarried mothers generally are younger and have lower parity numbers 

than do the married, their infants have a higher 

mortality rate, supposedly because relatively 

more of the unmarried mothers have poor demographic and medical conditions. 

The pregnant woman’s build, especially her 

height, also influences the outcome of pregnancy. 

Both perinatal mortality and the incidence of low 

birth weight infants are less for women taller 

than 160 centimeters (63 inches). 4’5 The same 

favorable conditions are found for women with 

heart volume of more than 600 milliliters and 

hemoglobin concentration of more than 75 percent. 6)7 

The mortality rate is higher for multiple 

than for single births, first and foremost because 

about 50 percent are births of low weight opposed 

to 5 to 9 percent for single births, and because 

the number of complicated pregnancies and deliveries is higher for multiple births. Although 

the incidence of multiple pregnancies is small, 

the decline in multiple births during the last 30 

years caused by changes in distribution by 

mother’s age and parity has some importance for 

the total infant mortality rate. 

Excess mortality for males plays no significant part in the decline in the mortality rate 

from 1931-62. During these years the relative 

number of male and female births was the same, 

and the relationship between ir,fant mortality for 

males and females has been constant. 

MEDICAL FACTORS 

Medical factors associated with reduced infant mortality are extremely comprehensive. They 

involve obstetric and pediatric care and prophylaxis, and also care and prophylaxis within all 

medical branches both prior to and during pregnancy. Thus, the general health of the whole 

population is of great importance. The medical 

facmrs may be divided into those before pregnancy, ucing pregnant y and delivery, and during 

the first wtek of life. (See Appendix IV for description of tt.e Danish health system.) 

Factors Before Pregnancy 

The still improving development of the health 

organization in connection with extended welfare 

work and health education have the effect that 

each pregnant woman needs to show a minimum 

of initiative in order to obtain prophylactic, 

therapeutic, and economic help. For example, 

treatment of venereal diseases is obligatory, 

20 
Preventive health control (for instance, control 

of tuberculosis, care of infants and school children, and discovery of the source of venereal 

infection), immunizations, sex education, information on appropriate diet, on vitamin and 

iron supply, on tobacco and alcohol excess, and 

on other topics in connection with shortened 

working hours, public inspection of factories and 

workshops, better wages,andsoforth, havehelped 

thehealth of the population toimprove constantly. 

Often investigations of causes ofpremature 

delivery make it possible to correct problems 

before the next pregnancy. For instance,surgical 

reconstruction of the uterus, removal of uteriile 

tumors, and care of inadequately treated general 

diseases improve conditions for the next pregnancy, Planned parenthood also improves results. 

The influenceof mother’s age,parity,and marital 

status has been discussed. Elderly women run 

a greater risk of having complicated deliveries 

and of developing diseases triggered by pregnancy. High parity is more frequently connected 

with abnormal fetal presentation, and thus complicated delivery. The intervalbetweendeliveries 

also plays a part, such that the number of low 

birth weight babies is less when the intervalis 

more than 2years but less than 6years.8 

Information oncontraception isrecommended 

when the woman’s health is unsatisfactory, even 

though temporarily, because of chronic diseases, 

hereditary disease ,andrecurrentsevere diseases 

arising during pregnancy. It isalsorecommended 

as a means of planned parenthood. Ifa population 

as a whole is contraceptive minded, this may influence infant mortality favorably. However, the 

result will be unsatisfactory from a social point 

of view if contraception isusedonlybythe betteroff part of the population. 

Another prophylactic measure is sterilization, The first Danish law permitting sterilization was enacted in 1929. Under the law of 1934, 

according to certain provisions, sterilization may 

be undertaken on mentally deficient persons, and, 

under a 1935 legal act, on other psychically abnormal and normal persons. In 1956 a special 

law was enacted to permit sterilization for 

eugenic indications when a legal abortion is performed. Sterilization may also be undertaken for 

purely medical indications, such as disease of 

the genital system, and also for women when 

pregnancy aggravates a chronic disease, or when 

a severe disease caused by pregnancy reoccurs. 

The total ~umber of sterilizations in Denmark is not known. During the first 4%years after 

the enactment of the law of 1934, 994 sterilizations were performed on feebleminded persons 

(680 on females and 314 on males); g and in a 

report on sterilization and castration 10 it is mentioned that during the 14 years from 1949-62, 

1,963 sterilizations were done (1 ,414 on females 

and 549 on males). While during the first years the 

average was 220 sterilizations per year (150 females and 70 males), the average during the last 

7 years has been only 94 per year (71 females 

and 23 males). The number of sterilizations performed under the acts of 1935 and 1956 are 

available only for 1957-59; about 351 females and 

50 males per year were sterilized. An average 

of 1,898 women per year were sterilized for 

medical reasons. 

Castration was made legal in 1929, with an 

amendment to the act in 1935. From 1929-61,943 

castrations were performed, among them, five on 

women. 11 The operation has been performed on 

feebleminded persons, psychopaths, sexually abnormal persons, and lunatics; more than 80 percent of these had committed a sexual crime before 

the operation. 1~ 

Factors During Pregnancy and Delivery 

Hand in hand with therapy, prophylaxis is of 

great importance. Factors of preventive care may 

be divided into antenatal care, legal abortion, 

development of obstetric departments, progress 

in medical knowledge and ability, and also changed 

views as to methods of delivery. 

Antenatal caye. — Antenatal care has been 

improving throughout the 20th century. Since 1945 

all women have been allowed nine free consultations during pregnant y. Three of these visits 

are with a physician—as early as possible, in 

the 25th week, and in the 34th to 36th week—and 

the other six with a midwife in the 20th, 30th, 

33d, 37th, 38th, and 39th weeks. When related to 

the number of live births, the ratio of pregnant 

women taking advantage of these free consultations has been growing over the last 16 years. 13 

The ratio of first visits to physicians by women 

21 
----------------------------- -------- ------- ----

------- ------- ------- -----

for prenatal care per 100 live births has increased 

from 1946 to 1962: 

1946 75 

1947-51 .------ 80 

1952-56 93 

1957-61-------------------------- 99 

1962----------------------------- 102 

In 1962, the number ofwomen making their first 

visits to physicians exceeded the number of live 

births, since some pregnancies” result in other 

thana live birth. 

Among women who make the first prenatal 

visit to physicians, greater percentages aremaking subsequent second and third visits tophysicians, as well as visits to midwives: 

Second atid 

Yeal’ third visits Visits to 

midwives 

to physicians 

1946------------- 63 52 

1947-51---------- 68 55 

1952-56---------- 72 57 

1957-61---------- 75 60 

1962------------- 77 63 

It should be added that asmallpart of thepregnant women do not make use of this privilege, 

but prefer, for some reason or other, to consult 

a specialist or an obstetric department. 

Besides the routine examinations (weight, 

blood pressure, hemoglobin, urine, and pelvic 

measurement) the Wassermann test is done, and 

since 1958 the rhesus type has been determined 

early in pregnancy. Furthermore, rhesus-negative women are examined for anti-D, and if no 

antibodies are present, other examinations are 

made in the34thand36thweeks. Ifanti-Dis found, 

the woman is referredto a special obstetric department. 

Under the provisions ofvariousactsall working women are granted leave around the timeof 

delivery. Civil servants are given 6 weeks after 

the delivery with full pay (and any amountoftime 

prior to delivery if unable to work), salaried employees (“white-collar” employees), 3 months 

prior to delivery and 2 months after with half pay, 

and those paid by the week (’‘blue- collar’ ‘workers), 

8 weeks prior to delivery and 6 weeks after, during which time they receive a per diem of approximately $4. Members of the sick benefit clubs are 

given half a liter of free milk daily from the 12th 

week of pregnancy and one liter (1.0567 quarts) for 

6 months after birth, if the child li’ves. 

Leg-al abortion. — Even before 1939 legal 

abortion was permitted on medical indication 

though only to a small exten~ since 1%32it has 

been the physican’s duty to report abortions to the 

National Health Service. After October 1, 1939, 

abortion has been allowed only under the provisions of the act of 1937 (amended in 1956). Table 

16 shows the frequency of intervention as well as 

the number of births, the number of hospitalized 

spontaneous and illegal abortions, the estimated 

number of nonhospitalized abortions, and the estimated number of ectopic pregnancies. 

Before the act of 1939 legal abortion was 

mainly performed on medical indication, although 

a small part (2.5 percent) was based on eugenics. 14 

After 1939 abortion has been mostly done to prevent serious danger to the woman’s life or health. 

The danger must not necessarily be from a disease as such, but maybe of a physical or psychical 

nature.lh This is further underlined in the act of 

1956 by the following amendment: “When judging 

the danger one must on the basis of an estimate of 

all facts, including the conditions under which 

the woman is living, consider not only the physical 

or psychical disease in itself but also a present 

or imminent physical or psychical weakness. ” 

After the 1939 law about 20 percent of the 

women who applied were granted permission for 

legal abortion. Since then the percentage has been 

evenly increasing and during the last 5 years it 

has been between 45 and 50 percent! GBetween 80-

85 percent of the abortions are performed in cases 

of danger to the mother’s health. About 75 percent of the women having abortions are married, 

about 10 percent, unmarried, and about 15 percent, 

formerly married. 17 

Development of obstetvic departments .—The 

first obstetric department in Denmark was founded 

in Copenhagen in 1750 and the first hospital for 

treatment of patients with a chance of recovering 

was founded in 1757. During the next 200 years 

more and more hospitals were built but new obstetric departments were not established until 

much later. In 1931 there were only 8 obstetric . 

22 
departments, 6 of them in the Capital; in 1962 

the number had increased to 16, including 7 in 

the Capital, This decentralization has made obstetric treatment available all over the country not 

only for pathological cases, but also for those 

which are potentially dangerous. 

It is estimated that in 1931 a little less than 

L>Opercent of the births were home deliveries, 2-3 

percent deliveries at private clinics, about 2 percent at general hospitals, and around 8 percent in 

obstetric departments. A midwife was present at 

practically all deliveries. Only one-seventh of the 

home deliveries were attended by a physician. 

At hospitals physicians were always available. 

In 1962 there were 46 percent home deliveries, 10 percent deliveries at private clinics, 21 

percent at general hospitals, and 23 percent in 

obstetric departments. Again, a midwife was 

present at practically all deliveries. Physicians 

were always available at hospitals and were 

present at three-quarters of the home deliveries. 

It should be mentioned that midwives have 

been trained in Denmark since 1714. Originally 

the training lasted 1 year; from 1927 -39,2 years; 

and since 1940, 3 years. Training includes both 

theory and practice. Consequently Danish midwives are well qualified. For medical students, 

training in obstetrics has been obligatory since 

1761, and an examination in obstetrics has been 

required since 1788. 

In 1962 there were 362 midwives employed by 

the government and 271 private practicing midwives. Both assist at home deliveries or accompany their patients to an obstetric department. In 

addition, 53 midwives were employed at obstetric 

departments. 

Progress in medical knowledge and ability .-

Obstetrics has been influenced by progress in 

medical knowledge and ability. Antenatal care 

allows the physician to intervene at an early state, 

if small deviations from the normal are found. 

Uterotonics, blood transfusions, antibiotics, serological examinations, anesthetics, and so forth 

have been of great importance during the last 30 

years. During the 1960’s hormonal estimations 

have become routine in antenatal care. Estrogen 

analyses are especially helpful as a means of 

avoiding stillbirths, infant deaths, and permanent 

damage to infants. 

Methods of delivevy. — Attitudes toward and 

knowledge of methods of delivery have also 

changed. During the last 30 years maternal mortality in connection with cesarean section has 

practically disappeared so that now it does not 

exceed the maternal mortality for vaginal deliveries. Therefore, cesarean section can now be 

indicated not only in the interest of the mother, 

but also solely for the sake of the infant. This is 

extremely important, since retrospective child 

examinations have shown that difficult deliveries 

may cause not only dead infants, but also permanent damage to surviving infants. Prophylactic 

and therapeutic interventions at threatening premature delivery are of great importance, as the 

premature infants form an increasing proportion 

of stillbirths as well as infant deaths. 

Factors During the First week of Life 

As regards the treatment of the newborn 

infant, medical progress is important for all 

asphyctic, premature, rhesus-affected, and other 

sick infants. The recently instituted cooperation 

of pediatricians in obstetric wards has proven very 

valuable. 

LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS 

From 5 to 9 percent of the live births are of 

low birth weight. Before the influence of medical 

factors on the decline in stillbirths and perinatal 

mortality is assessed, it shall be demonstrated 

how much low birth weight babies influence infant 

mortality. Unfortunately neither the Danish medical statistics nor the publications tlrom the Statistical Department have trend data on this problem. The Swedish Medical Service}8 however, 

gives figures for 1948-62 (well over 125,000 

down to almost 110,000 births per year for all 

Sweden), and figure 3 has been drawn on the basis 

of these figures. Even though the incidence of 

low birth weight infants has been increasing somewhat in the period mentioned (from 4.0 to 5.0 percent), it is evident that their share in the stillbirths, perinatal mortality, and mortality in the 

first week of life has gone up very much during 

the 15 years in question, i.e., from 35 to 50 percent, 44 to 58 percent, and 59 to 70 percent, 

23 
respectively. In Denmark the increase in the proportion of low birth weight infants among perinatal 

and infant deaths is known only for stillbirths, viz., 

from 41 to 59 percent.13 

The direct cause of this increase in Sweden 

is illustrated in figure 4 where the percent decrease in mortality since 1948 is given for stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life for all 

infants, for infants of 2,500 grams or less, 

:60~ / Deaths in first week -1 

I I I I I 

1948 1952 1956 1960 1984 

YEAR 

Figure 3. Perceni of sti 11births, perinatal deaths, 

and deaths in the first week of life with birth 

weight of 2,500 grams or less: Sweden, 1946-62. 

ALL NEWBORN 

I 10 I I 

Decline 1948 to 1962 

— Stlllblrths 32% 

“A . . ,,,,,,,, Fir$t.w*@k dba, h’ ,4% 

I 

L 1 1 1 J 

2,500 GRAMS OR LESS 

I I I I I 

2,501 GRAMS OR MORE 

110 — 

A- ,,,,,,,, Fk%t-w..k dedths 37% 

J 

100 — 

90 — 

80 — 

70 — 

60 — 

50 . 

o~ 

[94 5 1950 1955 1960 1965 

YEAR 

Figure k Yearly indexes of stillbirth rates and 

death rates in the first week of life, by birth 

weight: Sweden, 1948-62. 

24

and for infants of 2,501 grams or more. The perinatal mortality rates dropped 26, 17, and 44 percent, respectively. 

FACTORS IN 

THE DECREASING RATES 

DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD 

Figure 5 illustrates the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, and the rate for mortality in 

the first week of life over the last 30 years. On 

50- I I 

the whoIe both the stillbirth rate and the mortality 

rate for the first week of life have been unchanged 

through 1940. Thereafter, a clear drop is seen. 

Thus, unexpectedly, before 1940 the favorabIe 

changes in demographic and medicaI factors in 

this century have affected neither the stillbirth 

rate nor the mortality rate in the first week of 

life. 

With respect to the sudden drop after 1940 

neither demographic factors nor general improvement of the health of the poptdation has changed so 

remarkably that these circumstances can explain 

the decline. Neither are planned parenthood and 

I I I 

e-\A — 

+ / 41 *W J 

\ 

v I l\ Perlnatal mortality rate per 1,000 total births 1 

p4 Id Stillbirth rate per 1,000 fdal births 

n. \ 

?.,,...’ ;

=. 

I... 

..?%, ..* ~-

:20 1- 1 $.: 

. 

WI Mortality rate for firsi week of lif~ per 1,000 live birfhs ““%,,=4”% 

( . 

o	

1900 

Illtlllll 1910 Illllrlll 1920 

Itlllllll 

[930 

[11111111 1940 

Itlltfll[ 195CJ 

IIl[lfll[ 

i 960 

1111 

! YEAR 

Figure 5. St i1Ibi rth rates, mortal ity rates in the f irst week of 1 ife, and Perinatal mortal ity rates: Den-


mark, [901 -62.


25


c 
contraception explanations, since these prophylactic measures did not increase in a sudden and 

violent manner after 1940. Sterilizations were 

performed before 1940, and although the exact 

number over the years is not known, there is no 

basis for believing that a changed attitude toward 

this operation occurred after 1940 resulting in a 

sudden increase of sterilizations. Free antenatal 

care and the establishment of more obstetrical 

departments did not begin until after 1945, and 

apart from this, their favorable influence on the 

mortality would not have caused a sudden drop. 

The number of legal almrtionslg is seen in 

table 16. The relative number has been small 

and, from 1936 to 1941, constant. Thereafter a 

rather even but steep ascent is seen until 1955; 

the ratio of abortions increased from 7.1 in 1941 

to 69.4 per 1,000 total births in 1955, an increase 

of 877 percent. Since then the rate has decreased 

from 69.4 to 50.8 per 1,000 total births in 1962, 

a 27 percent decrease. 

It is difficult to determine how much legal 

abortions have influenced the rates, but the following points to the conclusion that they have not 

caused the decline in perinatal mortality aftev 

1940. First, the decrease in perinatal mortality 

set in before legal abortions increased; second, 

mortality went up during the years 1950-54 in 

spite of the legal abortions reaching their maximum in these years; and third, mortality again 

declined after 1954 while simultaneously legal 

abortions were declining. 

Progress in medical knowledge and ability, 

especially regarding obstetrics and pediatrics, 

and the changed attitude toward methods of delivery have, of course, contributed to the decline 

in mortality, but the progress has not been so 

remarkable that it explains the sudden decrease 

after 1940. Of course, one must consider the 

sulfanilamides, but these were in use as early as 

1938; furthermore, stillbirths account for twothirds of the decrease in the perinatal mortality 

rate after 1940. 

In order to find an explanation for the decrease in stillbirths and deaths during the first 

week of life after 1940 a detailed examination is 

needed. For this purpose figure 6 has been drawn. 

Only the perinatal mortality rate is shown because 

the stillbirth rate and the mortality rate for deaths 

in the first week of life follow the same pattern. 

The decrease in the mortality rate is present 

over the years from 1941-49 and 1955-62, whereas 

there was a small increase from 1950-54. 

Perinatal Mortality, 1941-49 

The years from 1941-49 are notable because 

they include both the World War II period with German occupation, blackout, curfew, underground 

activity (many households sheltered persons unknown to them), food rationing, and so forth, and 

the postwar period. Nevertheless, the perinatal 

mortality rate dropped from 44.7 (1940) to 32.5 

(1949) per 1,000 total births, i.e., 27 percent. 

Figure 6 shows the following characteristics 

for 1941-49. The birth rate increased evenly until 

1946, and declined thereafter. The maximum increase in the birth rate was 28 percent. The proportion of low birth weight infants went down 

during most of the period, and the drop was considerable, from 81 (1940) to 46 per 1,000 total 

births, i.e., 43 percent. During the War the number of illegitimate births increased from 88 to 99 

per 1,000 total births (13 percent), followed by a 

decline after the War to 74 (25 percent). 

While a likely explanation can be given for 

the decrease in perinatal mortality since 1942, 

it has not been possible to explain the decrease 

in 1941 (and perhaps 1940). An analysis for 1941 

shows that the decrease is seen for both the 

stillbirth rate and the mortality rate in the first 

week of life for infants of married and unmarried 

women. The birth rate, the relative number of 

low birth weight infants, the distribution of births 

by mother’s age and parity~” the relative number 

of legal abortions, the proportion of legitimate 

and illegitimate births, and the proportion of male 

and female births have all been nearly the same 

as in the preceding 2 years. It is strange that 

Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and England 

and Wales have a similar sudden drop in 1941. g‘ 

However, the continued decrease in the perinatal mortality rate between 1942 and 1949 can be 

explained solely from the decrease in the relative 

number of low birth weight infants. If the proportion of low birth weight babies had been unchanged 

up to 1949 the perinatal mortality rate would have 

been on a level or rather have increased a little. 

The reason why the relative number of low birth 

weight babies went down during the War is pre26 
J 

~ 1,000 total blrthse.j .:,.2 80 - // \!\ . . 

? 

z ,h \ “%”, f 

!4 

; 

70 Births \ 

2,500 grams !,..,$s’$’’” 

a or less \ 

u per 1,000 .4.1 

L total births 1 “1” / +/# _ G 6“ w \ 0. 

m \ i/ \ ~ o


0


0 50 -
 _.
 LX? ~~ “ -


y T1-ego!abortion sperl 

: f 1,000 deliveries 

w 40 - I G 

u Perlnotol deaths ‘ 

per 1,000 

totol births 

30 -
 1


.


+*
 ,**


20 -xl i.


““’”i ““;.:-:;;s-;:” 

married as well as unmarried parturients, on the 

other hand, cannot explain the decrease in the low 

birth weight infants. Although the relative number 

of primiparae dropped by 15 percent, while secundiparae and tertiparae increased 13 and 20 

percent, respectively?” a calculation shows that 

this would lower the percentage of low birth 

weight babies only 0.1. The proportion of higher 

parity numbers is small and changes over the 

years in question are not important. 

Perinatal Mortality, 1950-54 

The years 1950-54 were stable with good 

socioeconomic conditions and no unemployment. 

Perinatal mortality increased a little from 32.5 

(in 1949) to 34.4 (in 1954) per 1,000 total births 

(6 percent). The birth rate decreased slightly 

(8 percent). The number of low birth weight infants increased once more from 46 to 61 per 1,000 

total births—33 percent. The decrease in the 

number of illegitimate births continued from 74 

to 67 per 1,000 total births—9 percent. 

If the number of low birth weight infants had 

not increased and all other conditions had remained stationary, the perinatal mortality rate 

would have shown a small decline. The increase 

took place in spite of the continued decrease in

+_-%
 the relative number of births to unmarried 

I 1“ 1,000 population 1 mothers, and in spite of an unchanging relative 

.,0’-””’ 10 1 1 

o~ 1932 1936 1940 1944 1946 1952 1956 1960 1964 

YEAR 

Figure 6. Selected rates associated with birth 

and with perinatal mortality: Denmark, 1932-62. 

sumably connected with the big increase in the 

birth rate. This increase is probably due to the 

previously mentioned changes in the daily life 

during the War. An otherwise hidden healthy 

reserve of married as well as unmarried women 

was brought to light. This may explain that although the incidence of births to unmarried women 

rose during the War, the incidence of low birth 

weight babies unexpectedly went down. Possibly 

also changes in diet on account of food rationing 

played a part. The change in parity numbers for 

number of births by parity. 

Perinatal Mortality, 1955-62 

The period from 1955-62 was equally favorable, but in addition more intensive obstetrical 

care was activated and examinations for rhesus 

antibodies were performed on all pregnant women. 

Perinatal mortality declined from 34.4 (1954) to 

24.9 per 1,000 total births (28 percent). The birth 

rate hardly changed, but the number of low birth 

weight infants increased slightly from 61 to 66 

per 1,000 total births (an increase of 8 percent). 

Illegitimacy rose once again from 67 to 83 illegitimate births per 1,000 total births (24 percent). 

The decrease in the perinatal mortality rate, 

which occurred in spite of the simultaneous increase in the relative number of low birth weight 

babies and also of illegitimate births, is most 

27 
likely due to better utilization of antenatal care 

and the establishment of new obstetrical departments, progress in medical knowledge, and 

changed views of methods of delivery. Kaern 22 

has shown the importance of the obstetrical departments and antenatal care. By dividing Denmark into four geographic zones with approximately the same number of births, he found the 

stillbirth rate during the 3-year period 1954-

56 smallest for zone 1 (Greater Copenhagen), 16 

per 1,000 total births, and largest for zone IV 

(North and West Jutland), 20 per 1,000 total 

births. Perinatal mortality examined for the 

year 1956 was lowest in zone 1, 31 per 1,000 

total births, and highest in zone IV, 36 per 1,000 

total births. The infants were divided into two 

groups, one weighing over 2,500 grams and the 

other weighing 2,500 grams or less; and the perinatal mortality in zone I was found to be 11 and 

278 per 1,000 total births, respectively, while in 

zone IV it was 19 and 339. According to Kaern the 

explanation is that zone I had adequate obstetrical 

service—77 percent of the deliveries took place 

in obstetrical departments and antenatal care was 

utilized to a large extent. Zone IV had no obstetrical departments or practicing specialist. 

Only 17 percent of the deliveries took place at 

general hospitals, and antenatal care was not 

greatly utilized. A similar conclusion that adequate obstetrical service and antenatal care lead 

to lower stillbirth and perinatal mortality was 

reached in another study based on a selected 

small section of Denmark.23 

28 
PART Ill. PEDIATRIC CONSIDERATIONS ON MORTALITY 

AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF LIFk 

The portion of the population in need of pediatric assistance has been approximately constant 

during the last 30 years, since the age group 

under 15 years has declined only from 27.5 to 

25.1 percent. An important change in living conditions has resulted in a steady decline in infant 

mortality from 134 infant deaths per 1,000 live 

births in the beginning of the century to 20 in 

1962, Incidentally, the rate is still declining and 

in 1964 was only 18 per 1,000 live births. The 

only period in which there seems to have been 

some stagnation in decline was during World War 

II. In other words, while at the turn of the century 

every 7th child of all liveborn infants died during 

the first year of life, by 1962 every 50th child in 

the same age interval died. 

PEDIATRIC CARE 

The decrease in infant mortality can undoubtedly be explained partly by changes in family 

structure (for instance, the higher incidence of 

marriage and fewer children per married couple), 

partly by improved standard of living, and partly 

by development of health organizations. Since 

health organizations will be discussed later, only a 

few words will be added here about preventive 

care for children. 

The first hospital for children was founded 

in 1850, but was actually of importance to few 

children. In 1931 there were seven pediatric departments, five of which were independent. and 

only one of the seven was outside the Capital. In 

1962 the number of departments had increased to 

10, with 4 of these outside the Copenhagen area; 

however, only one small department for pediatric 

surgery had been established. 

Under the provisions of a law enacted in 1908 

local Child Welfare Authorities were established, 

especially because of the high infant mortality 

rate among illegitimate children. Also because 

of the high infant mortality, especially in Copenhagen, the United Nursing Help of the Copenhagen 

Parishes established in 1908 a number of infant 

care centers where the mothers could bring their 

infants, and later also preschool children at some 

places, for health examinations. These infant care 

centers have been established in few municipalities outside Copenhagen. The centers were subsidized in 1937 by the introduction of the law on 

visiting public health nurses. At that time 33 percent of the children in the municipality of Copenhagen were examined at the centers; by 1945 the 

proportion had increased to 80 percent. Nevertheless the infant care centers have had decreasing 

importance since 1946, with the enactment of a 

law providing free examinations of all preschool 

children by general practitioners. These examinations are given at the age of 5 weeks and 5, 10, 

and 15 months, and around the following 5 birthdays of the child—nine examinations in all. At 

these consultations (especially the second, third, 

and fourth), among other things the physician will 

immunize free of charge against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis. In 1949, 50 percent of the children were examined, 66 percent in 

towns and 41 in rural districts, but with a considerably higher proportion of infants than of preschool children. The figures for 1961 are 63, 67, 

and 60 percent, respectively. 

Until 1941 few persons were immunized 

against diphtheria, but in 1943 immunization became general and in 1962, 88 percent of the 

children were sufficiently immunized when they 

reached school age. Tetanus vaccine was added 

in 1950. General pertussis immunization was not 

started until 1961, and poliomyelitis immunization 

was begun in 1956. Nowadays few infants are immunized against tuberculosis, but at school age 

44 percent of the children 

munized. This immunization 

solely at the chest clinics. 

smallpox immunization has 

over 99 percent are carried 

The work of the visiting 

had already begun in certain 

have been BCG-imtakes place almost 

Since the last century 

been compulsory, and 

out before school age. 

public health nurses 

areas, especially in 

the municipality of Copenhagen, some years before 1937, but they supervised only infants who, 

mainly because they were illegitimate, were under 

supervision of the Child Welfare Authorities. 

29 
Since 1937 there have been increasingnumbersof 

public health nurses in this country (658 in 1962). 

In 1945, 50 percent and in 1962, 68 percent of 

Danish infants were supervised by health nurses. 

However, only about one-third of the country is 

covered by this service. In 1962, 99.1 percent 

of the families who had this kind of nursing 

supervision available to them received the complete series of home visits. Homes are visited 

10 times during the first year of life with frequent 

visits in the first months. Furthermore experimental supervision by health nurses of children 

until the age of 3 years has been introduced in 

some places. 

The health nurse weighs and measures the 

infant, and if symptoms of illness should be present, refers the infant to a physician. However, the 

health nurse may give advice regarding skin infections and digestive troubles. It is the health 

nurse’s duty to give the mother instruction on 

nutrition and vitamin dosages and especially to 

try to keep the breast feeding going as long as 

~ssible. At present, investigations seem to show 

that 10 percent of the infants are not breast fed 

or are nursed only a few days. After the age of 

3 months 60 percent are still nursed, but only 10 

percent solely; after the age of 6 months 30 percent are partly, while almost none are only breast 

fed. In 1963 the duty of examining the urine of 

the infant sometime in the first weeks of life for 

phenylketonuria (Fzdling’s disease) was imposed 

on the health nurses. In districts without visiting 

health nurses the screening must be done by the 

physician when the 5-week-old child is brought 

for his first health examination. 

MORTALITY AFTER THE FIRST WEEK 

OF LIFE 

In 1921 mortality after the first week of life 

accounted for 74 percent of the total infant mortality, whereas in 1962 it was only 34 percent. 

Figures for mortality after the first month are 60 

and 24 percent of the total. In the age group 7 days 

to 1 month, where data are available since 1921, 

mortality was almost unchanged up to 1930— 10.7-

9.4 per 1,000 live births —but since then there has 

been a steady decline to 2.1 in 1962, i.e., a drop to 

less than one-fifth of the 1921 rate. In the age 

group 1-5 months mortality was 60 per 1,000 live 

births at the beginning of the century. The decrease seems to have been almost constant from 

year to year, and by 1930 the mortality rate was 

almost cut in half (32 per 1,000 live births). Since 

then it has fallen to one-tenth (3.1): a total drop 

to one-twentieth of the rate in the beginning of 

this century. The age group 6-11 months shows 

an identical decline: from 33 in 1901 down to 17 

in 1930, and to 1.6 per 1,000 live births in 1962. 

The reason for the big difference in the decrease is probably that the causes of death after 

the first month of life differ from the causes during the last 3 weeks of the first month of life, 

which in turn differ from the causes of death in 

the first week of life. Deaths from hemolytic diseases, postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis, birth 

injuries, and immaturity occur mainly in the first 

month of life (table 4) and especially in the first 

week. The decrease has been rather moderate, 

and deaths from postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis 

have even increased, although this undoubtedly is 

due to a mere change in registration. 

Table 5, which includes specified causes of 

death for the age group over 1 month, illustrates 

clearly the influence of the introduction of sulfanilamides, penicillin, and other antibiotics on 

influenza and pneumonia. Postneonatal mortality 

from influenza and pneumonia, from gastritis and 

duodenitis (in this age group mainly infections of 

the digestive tract), and from infective and parasitic diseases has in the last 30 years decreased 

to about one-twenty-fifth the 1931 rate, which is 

considerably better than the decrease for all 

causes down to less than one-tenth. As for other 

causes of death, accidents together with symptoms 

and ill-defined conditions have dropped to about 

one-third, congenital malformations only to twothirds, and the group “all other causes” to onethirteenth the rates in 1931. 

The influence of low and high birth weight can 

only be estimated by cause in relation to the total 

infant mortality. Mortality among low birth weight 

infants from infections and congenital malformations is 5 times higher than among infants over 

2,500 grams at birth; from birth injuries, 8 times; 

from asphyxia and atelectasis, 30 times; from 

hemolytic diseases, 9 times; and from maternal 

toxemia (infants of diabetic mothers included), 90 

30 
times higher. In the groups of symptoms and illdefined diseases, accidents, andall other causes, 

however, it is only twice as high. 

It may be concluded that low birth weight influences both early and late neonatal mortality. In 

the years 1954-55 the proportion of low birth 

weight infants was 5.6 percent, and they accounted 

for 65 percent of the deaths in the first week of 

life and 20 percent of the neonatal deaths after the 

first week. This proportion of mortality is more 

than would be expected from the percent of low 

birth weight infants. Unfortunately, there is insufficient information on the influence after the 

first month of life. 

From a pediatrician’s point of view the influence of social factors on infant mortality is 

important enough to be emphasized and discussed 

again. The influence is illustrated by comparing 

mortality of infants born in and out of wedlock and 

by relating mortality to the occupation of the 

family head and the mother’s place of residence. 

Throughout the years examined there has been an 

excess mortality rate for illegitimate births. The 

main reason for this is that unmarried mothers 

give birth to low birth weight infants twice as 

frequently as do married mothers. However, in 

both weight groups, over 2,500 grams and 2,500 

grams or less, the excess mortality rate for illegitimate infants is preponderant. Excess mortality of illegitimate infants is highest for postnatal 

asphyxia and atelectasis (107 percent), immaturity 

(116 percent), and accidents (109 percent). Accidents in the age group over 1 month are mainly 

sudden, unexpected death, and this probably points 

to illegitimate infants being less carefully taken 

care of than legitimate infants. 

The distribution of infant mortality rates by 

occupation is seen in table 12, and by mother’s 

residence in table 15. Both factors are closely 

connected with the size of family. Thus, the lowest 

social classes from the three areas— Capital, 

provincial towns, and rural districts-have the 

largest families and therefore, perhaps, do not 

take as good care of their children. In any case 

table 10 illustrates that both in 1951-53 and in 

1960-62 there was an increasing infant mortality 

rate with higher birth order after the first month 

of life (while deaths in the first month of life 

showed lower mortality for the secondborn). Furthermore, within all occupational groups there are 

more children per family in the rural districts 

than in the provincial towns. 

There is a marked excess mortality for infants from the occupation groups of farm hands 

and domestics (the latter group consists mainly 

of unmarried mothers) than for managers and 

employees (self -employed in manufacturing, construction, commerce, and professional services, 

salaried employees, and public servants). Thus, 

infant mortality rates for influenza and pneumonia 

are 4 times greater among children of farm hands 

and domestics than among those whose parents 

are self-employed in professional services or are 

salaried employees and public servants (table 12). 

For infections in the digestive system the mortality rate is 18 times greater among infants of 

farm hands than among those of self-employed in 

professional services. Two remarkable differences are the 27 times higher mortality for 

symptoms and ill-defined conditions among infants 

of farm hands compared with that among salaried 

employees’ and the public servants’ children, and 

the 14 times greater mortality compared with that 

among infants of managers. 

Presumably, there is among farm hands a 

tendency not to send for a physician, because 

the child’s illness is not considered serious or is 

not observed. It is important to emphasize that in 

Denmark infant mortality due to birth injuries 

and congenital malformations shows no marked 

differences from one social class to another. 

31

PART IV. THE FUTURE


Future endeavors to reduce stillbirth andinfant mortality naturally should be directed toward utilization and development of everything 

known to favor a decreasing mortality rate, including the close coope~ation of obstetricians, 

pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, and anesthetists. Highest gains maybeobtainedby controlling 

the incidence of low birth weight infants, which 

contribute heavily to total perinatal mortality. 

An increase in these births alone may cause a 

standstill or an increase in the total perinatal 

mortality rate. Intensified care of premature 

births and investigation of new treatment should 

bring fast results, particularly if neonatologists 

(pediatricians who specialize in the care of newborn infants) are attached to obstetric departments. 

It should be mentioned that even today too 

many perinatal deaths are caused by negligence 

on the part of pregnant women or of medical persons who are responsible for them during pregnancy and delivery. The assumption that 20-25 

percent of perinatal deaths among infants weighing 

more than 2,500 grams at birth are caused by such 

negligence and, thus, might be avoided, is probably 

not too farfetched. ~~,~~ 

Negligence on the part of the parents is also 

a problem during the child’s first year. In a prospective child health study the development during 

the first year of life of 9,191 children born at 

University Hospital, Copenhagen, in 1959-61 was 

examined to determine if negligence might have 

caused death.96 A total of 42 children died during 

the postneonatal period and, of these, 22 died 

from infections. Of the latter, 16 were found dead 

in their beds which supports the assumption that 

parents should be better informed on the possible 

seriousness of even minor symptoms during infancy, although one must realize that this, in turn, 

may give parents many unnecessary worries and 

general practitioners still more work. Negligence 

on the part of medical persons was in no case 

the cause of death. 

In the efforts to lower mortality after the 

first month of life, it would be good if more pediatric departments were made available and their 

facilities extended to people from certain social 

groups who do not avail themselves sufficiently 

of the medical services offered them. On the other 

hand, it cannot be expected that such progress will 

procure any notable decrease in the total infant 

mortality rate. Even if the mortality rate for 

deaths after the first month of life were cut in 

half, the total infant mortality rate of 20 per 1,000 

live births in 1962 would be lowered to about 18, 

while mortality in the first week, if cut in half, 

would cause a drop to 13 per 1,000 live births. 

The latter is possible only if more efforts can be 

devoted to investigation, prevention, and therapy 

for causes of low birth weight and congenital malformations. 

Finally, it should be emphasized that although 

infant mortality is considered low in this country, 

one should never rest content and assume that 

the bottom level has been reached. Although 

periodic stagnation or even increases may occur 

in the future (as in the past), improved knowledge 

and techniques can in the long run result only in 

a decreasing infant mortality rate. 

Acknowledgment 

The authors gratefully acknowledge the unrestricted access to all data available at the 

Danish Statistical Department and the Danish 

National Health Service. 

32 
REFERENCES


lMatthiessen, P. C.: Infant Mentality in Denma?k, 1931-

(10. Copenhagen. The Statistical Department, 1965. 

%nited Nations: Foetal, Infant, and Early Childhood Mortnlity. ST/SOA,Meries A/13/Add. 1. New York, 1954. Vol. II, 

p. 7, table 6. 

3

Butler, N. R., and Bonham, D. G.: Perinatal Mortality. 

Edinburgh and London. E. & S. Livingstone, Ltd., 1963. 

4Baird D.: D@df@dselsproblemet. Ugeskr. Lag. 121:559 -

WJ3, 1959. ‘ 

5

Baird, D.: Environmental and obstetrical factors in prematurity, with special reference to experience in Aberdeen. 

BullS!’orld Health Organ. 26:291-295, 1962. 

~R~ih~, C. E., Lind, J., Johanson, C. E., Kihlberg, J.! 

and Vara, P.: Relationship of premature birth to heart volume 

and hgb% concentration in pregnant women. Ann .Paediat~. 

Fcnn, 2:69-74, 1956. 

7Riiihd, C. E.: Prematurity, perinatal mortality and maternal heart volume. Gtiy’s Hosp. Rep. 113:96-110, 1964. 

8Douglas, J. w. B.: some factors associated lvith Prematurity. J. OiJst. & Gynaec. Br+t. Enp. 57:143-170, 1950. 

‘Brunn, A., and Smith, J. C.: Ueber die Sterilisation 

Schwachsinniger gem.a?ss daeniscbem Gesetz nr. 171 vom. 16. 

Mai 1934 ueber hlassnahmen betreffend Schwachsinnige. Acts 

psych. G neurol. 16:27-45, 1941. 

10JustitsministerieHe udvalg: Beteenkning om sterilisation og castration. Betoenkning w. 353. Copenhagen, 1964. 

**Gormsen, H.: Retsmedicin. F.a.d.L.’s forlag. Copenhagen, 1962. 

l%and, K.: Justitsminister-ielle betoenkning rw. 353. Copenhagen, 1964. 

1:3.bundhedsstyrelsen: Medicinalbe?etnrhg fop Kongetiget 

Drlnnlmk 1!)31 til 1962. Copenhagen, 1933-64. 

l%aegevidenskabelige fakultets udvalg: Vejledning for 

L aeger vedryhende Afb~de lse af Svangerskab. Copenhagen, 

1940. 

15Sand, K.: hledicinallovgivning ogsocialmedicin. Copenhagen, 1956. 

16N@-gaard, M..“ M@drehjaelpsinstitutionerne gennem 25 i%. 

Socialt Tidsskrift nos. 3-4:33-64, 1964. 

17M@drehjaelpen: Beretning om modrehjae lpsinstitution ­

ernes virksomhed 1955-1958 og 1958-1961. Copenhagen, 1960 

and 1963. 

18hfedicinal~tYrel~ en, kungl.: Szeriges officiez?e $tatistik~ 

Allmiin H?ttso-ooh Sjukv%d 1938 til 196~. Stockholm, 1940-64. 

19Sundhedsstyrelsen: Verbal information. 

20Shtistisk department: Statistisk tabelvwrk 1962: L 

AEgteskaber, f@dte og dade 1941-1955. Copenhagen, 1962. 

21

U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare: Resource materiale for the Conference on the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Problem of the United States, May 1965. Wasbingtnn, D.C. 

22Kaern T . Perinatal d$delighed og dens geografiske ‘e­ ,.. 

lationer. Ugesk~. L&g. 120:585-586, 1958. 

231ngerslev, M., and pedersen, G. T.: Den perinatale mortalitet i 2 danske byer og amter i 1958 og 1959. FJrhandZ. w. 

nerd. f;?en. Obst. /l Gyn. i Helsingfors 1960, 95-99. 13elsingfors, 1961. 

24 

Trolle, D.: Nedsasttelse af den perinatale mortalitet ved 

bedre samarbejde. FZiThandl. v. nerd. f6?sn. Obst. 6 Gyn. i 

Helsingfo7s 1960, 107-108. Helsingfors, 1961. 

25 Trolle, D.: Reduction of tbe perinatal mortality. Dan. 

Med. Bull. 13:147-150, 1966. 

26Zacbau-Christianson, B.: Nordisk Medicin 77:262, 1967. 

33 
Bornho b� ,

,.-., 

m 

,...-,. - . . . . . . J

,...~. ‘Yk. 1 <-:”... .,.“’~’-’’-’”’-w... , ?? 

.-.-.-., !. .. . . ,,“-#~ Odense -W 

Boundaries of county medical districts and population size of towns: Denmark, 1960.


. Towns under 10,000 inhabitants 

@ Towns 10,000-20,000 inhabitants 

A Towns 20,000-50,000 inhabitants 

~ Towns 50,000-100,000 inhabitants 

� Towns 100,000-150,000 inhabitants 

� Copenhagen: 721,381 inhabitants 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

— 

Table 1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

DETAILED TABLES 

Infant mortalfty rates by age at deaTh: Denmark, 1901-62------------------------

Stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates, by sex: Denmark, 1901-62--------------

Infant mortality rates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62----------------------

Neonatal mortality rates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62--------------------

Postneonatal mortality rates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62----------------

Infant mortality ratea among malea by age: Denmark, 1901-62---------------------

Infant mortality rates among females by age: Denmark, 1901-62-------------------

Infant mortality ratea by legitimacy and age: Denmark, 1931-62------------------

Stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates by legitimacy: Denmark, 1931-62--------

Infant mortality rates by total-birth order and age: Denmark, 1951-53 and 1960-

62------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~fant mortality ratea, by cause of death and tokal-birth order: Denmark, 1960-

Average infant mortality ratea, by cause of death and occupation of family head: 

Denmark, 1951 and l953----------------------------------------------------------

Infant mortality ratea,by age and mother’s place of residence: Denmark, 1943-62-

Stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates by mother’s plaoe of residence: Denmark, l943-62-------------------------------------------------------------------

Infant mortality rates by age, cause of death, and mother’s place of residence: 

Denmark, l96O-62----------------------------------------------------------------

Summary of pregnancy outcome: Denmark, 1932-63----------------------------------

Page 

36 

38 

40 

42 

44 

46 

48 

50 

52 

53 

54 

55 

56 

57 

58 

59 

35 
--- ---

Table 1. Infantmortality rates by age at death: Denmark, 1901-62


Under Under Under 1-6 7 days to 1-5 6-11
 Year 1 year 7 daysl 1 dayl days1 1 monthl,~months months


1962--------------------------------


1961--------------------------------


1960--------------------------------


1959--------------------------------


1958--------------------------------


1957--------------------------------


1956--------------------------------


1955--------------------------------


1954--------------------------------


1953--------------------------------


1952--------------------------------


1951 .--.---.-------.------.-.-


1950--------------------------------


1949--------------------------------


1948--------------------------------


1947--------------------------------


1946--------------------------------


1945--------------------------------


1944--------------------------------


1943--------------------------------


1942--------------------------------


1941--------------------------------


1940--------------------------------


1939--------------------------------


1938--------------------------------


1937--------------------------------


1936--------------------------------


1935--------------------------------


1934--------------------------------


1933--------------------------------


1932--------------------------------


1931--------------------------------


1930--------------------------------


1929--------------------------------


1928--------------------------------


1927--------------------------------


1926--------------------------------


Rate per 1,000 live births


20.0 13.2 4.9 8.3 2.1 3.1 1.6 

21.8 14.6 5.4 9.2 2.0 3.6 1.6 

21.5 13.9 4.7 9.2 2.2 3.8 1.6 

22.4 13.8 5.5 8.3 2.5 4.5 1.6 

22.4 13.7 5.1 8.6 2.5 4.4 1.8 

23.4 14.0 5.3 8.7 2,4 4.7 2.3 

24.9 15.3 6.5 8.8 2.4 4.8 2.4 

25.2 15.6 6.8 8.8 2.3 5.3 2.0 

26.9 15.5 6.6 8.9 2.5 5.8 3.1 

27.2 16.3 7.7 8.6 2.3 5.7 2.9 

28.9 16.8 7.9 8.9 2.5 5.9 3.7 

28.8 15.9 7.4 8.5 2.4 6.8 3.7 

30.7 15.4 7.4 8.0 2.8 8.2 4.3 

34.5 16.0 7.4 8.6 3.1 10.4 5.0 

35.3 15.5 6.9 8.6 3.6 10.5 5.7 

40.4 17.2 7.7 9.5 4.8 11.6 6.8 

45.8 18/. 8.5 9.5 5.5 14.5 7.8 

48.3 18.6 8.6 10.0 6.3 16.5 6.9 

47.7 18.8 8.8 10.0 5.4 15.5 8.0 

44.8 18.0 8.5 9.5 4,9 14,4 7.5 

47.0 18.2 8.3 9.9 5.4 .14.8 8.6 

55.0 18.7 8.2 10.5 5.0 17.9 13.4 

50.2 20.0 9.5 10.5 5.2 14,9 10.1 

58.1 22.1 10.3 11.8 5.5 1801 12.4 

58.7 22.0 10.1 11.9 5.3 18.2 13.2 

66.1 22.6 10.6 12.0 6.4 22.4 14.7 

67.3 22.3 10.6 11.7 6.8 23.6 14.6 

71.0 22.6 13.0 9.6 6.5 25.0 16.9 

64,4 22.4 11.9 10.5 6.5 23.0 12.5 

67.6 21.7 11.7 10.0 6.0 26,4 13.5 

72.3 21.8 11.3 10.5 7.4 27.7 15.4 

81.4 21.7 11.8 9.9 7.8 32.4 19.5 

80.0 22.0 11.9 10.1 9.4 32.0 16.6 

82.9 23.7 12.6 11;1 9.7 32.2 17.3 

80.8 23.1 12.0 11.1 10.0 29.4 18.3 

83.4 22.1 10.9 11.2 9.9 32.0 19.4 

84.4 21.6 10.7 10.9 9.8 32.5 20.5 

o


36

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Table 1. Infant mortality rates by age at death: Denmark, 1901-62—Con.


Year	 Under Under Under 1-6 7 days to 1-5 6-11


1 year 7 days~ 1 dayl days1 1 monthl,~ months months


Rate per 1,000 live births


1925-------------------------------- 79.8 19.4 9.5 9.9 9.3 31.9 19.2 

1924-------------------------------- 84.5 21.6 10.1 11.5 9.8 32.2 20.9 

1923-------------------------------- 82.9 21.4 10.3 11.1 9.8 32.4 19.3 

1922-------------------------------- 85.4 22.0 10.3 11.7 11.1 32.6 19.7 

1921-------------------------------- 77.0 20.3 10.1 10.2 10.7 30.1 15.9 

1920-------------------------------- 90.2 10.0 21.6 38.0 20.6 

1919-------------------------------- 91.6 9.7 23.1 34.5 24.3 

191?3-------------------------------- 74.2 9.8 21.6 26.5 16.3 

1917-------------------------------- 99.5 10.8 24.3 39.6 24.8 

1916-------------------------------- 99.8 11.4 20.7 40.3 27.4 

1915 ---.----.----------------------- 95.0 11.7 21.5 38.5 23.3 

1914-------------------------------- 98.3 9.9 24.3 42.0 22.1 

1913----.--------------------------- 93.5 12.1 20.3 39.6 21.5 

1912-------------------------------- 93.2 9.5 22.8 39.8 21.1 

1911-------------------------------- 105.7 9.7 26.0 46.8 23.2 

1910--.--------.-------------------- 102.2 10.4 24.7 45.1 22.0 

1909-------------------------------- 97,7 11.4 23.6 39.6 23.1 

1908”------------------------------- 123.2 11.2 28.6 53.7 29.7 

1907..--.--------------------------- 108.4 11.7 26.0 43.8 26.9 

1906-------------------------------- 108.9 11.2 27.1 47.2 23.4 

1905-------------------------------- 121.0 11.5 ,27.9 52.7 28.9 

1904-------------------------------- 111.5 10.5 27.5 48.5 25.0 

1903-------------------------------- 115,9 11.6 27.9 48.9 27.5 

1902-------------------------------- 113.8 10.9 26.9 46.7 29.3 

1901-------------------------------- 134.2 11.2 29.8 59.8 33.4 

lBaSed on calendar days since birth.


‘For the sake of international comparison it would have been desirableto replace the age group


7 days to 1 month with the age group 7-27 days. This is? however, possible only from 1957; there-


fore the original age group has been retained to maintain the historical continuity. To estimate


the importance of this difference the number of deaths has been calculated for the age group from


7-27 days per 1,000 live births from 1957-62. This gives the following figures:


1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962


2.3 2.4 2.4 2.1 1.9 2.0


By comparing these figures with those in this table, it will be seen that the difference in the


races is only 0.1.


37

--------------------------- --------

----------------------------------

-----------------------------------

----------------------------------

--------------------------- --------

Table 2. Stillbirthand perinatalmortalityratea, by sex: Denmark, 1901-62


1931----------------------------------Tots
 1 Male Female


Year ‘erinatal still- Perinatal Still- Perinatal still­


lortality birth mortality birth mortality birth


rate rate rate rate rate rate
 II 

Rate per 1,000 total birtha of specifiedaex


1962----------------------------------- 24.9 11.9 28.0 12.6 21.6 11.1 

1961----------------------------------- 26.9 12.5 29.1 13.0 24.6 12.1 

1960----------------------------------- 26.2 12.4 28.7 13.0 23.6 1108 

1959----------------------------------- 28.2 14.6 30.8 1,4.7 25.4 14.5 

1958----------------------------------- 28.9 15.5 31.8 16.1 25.9 14.8 

1957----------------------------------- 29.1 15.3 32.0 15.9 25.9 14.6 

1956----------------------------------- 32.4 17.4 36.4 18.7 28.2 16.1 

1955----------------------------------- 33.3 17.9 35.3 L7.9 31.1 17.9 

1954----------------------------------- 34.4 19.3 38.5 20.2 30,1 18.3 

1953 34.9 19.0 39.1 20.6 30.4 17.2


1952 -
 34.0 17.5 38.5 18.9 29.3 16.0


1951----------------------------------- 33.9 18.3 37.8 19.8 29.8 16.7


1950 33.7 18.5 37.3 19.7 29.8 17,2 

1949----------------------------------- 32.5 16.8 35.3 17.3 29.5 16.3 

1948----------------------------------- 33.1 17.9 36.9 19.1 29.1 16.6 

1947----------------------------------- 34.3 17.4 38.9 18.9 29.4 1509 

1946----------------------------------- 36.4 18.7 40.8 20.5 31.7 16.8 

1945----------------------------------- 37.6 19.4 41.8 21.2 33.1 17.4 

1944----------------------------------- 38.1 19.6 43.1 22.2 32.7 16.8 

1943----------------------------------- 38.9 21.3 43.4 22.8 34.1 19.6 

1942 38.7 20.9 42.7 21.9 34.5 19.8 

1941----------------------------------- 41.3 23.0 46.5 24.6 35.7 21.4 

1940----------------------------------- 44.7 25.2 50.1 27.9 39.0 22.4 

1939----------------------------------- 47.7 26.2 51.1 27.7 44.0 24.6 

1938----------------------------------- 46.5 25.1 50.2 26.7 42.6 23.4 

1937----------------------------------- 47.5 25.5 53.3 27,9 41.4 22.9 

1936----------------------------------- 47*5 25.8 52.1 27.3 42.7 24.2 

1935 47.1 25.1 52.3 26.9 41.7 23.3 

1934----------------------------------- 47.3 25.5 51.7 26.7 42.6 24.2 

1933----------------------------------- 46.9 25.8 51.6 27.9 42.0 23.5 

1932----------------------------------- 44.3 23.0 48.5 25.2 39.9 20.8 

1931----------------------------------- 45.1 23.9 51.0 26.8 38.8 20.8 

38

-------------------- -------

--------- -----------

-----------------

-----------------------------------

-----------------------------------

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----

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----

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----

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----

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---

Table 2. Stillbirthand perinatalmortalityratea. 7 sex: Denmark, 1901-62-Con.


Total Male Female 

Year I 

Perinatal Still- Perinatal Stillmortality birth mortality birth 

rate rate rate rate 

E!EEE I 

Rate per 1,000 total births of specifiedsex 

1930 ----.----- 44.9 23.4 49.2 25.3 40.4 21.4 

1929----------------------------------- 47.3 24.2 51.8 25.3 42.6 23.0 

1928----------------------------------- 45*9 23.3 50.0 24.9 41.6 21.7 

1927----------------------------------- 44.5 23.0 48.9 24.8 39.9 21.0 

1926----------------------------------- 43.5 22.7 48.4 24.9 38.4 20.4 

1925--.----- --.----- 42.5 23.6 47.6 25.9 37.3 21.2 

1924----------------------------------- 45.0 23.8 51.0 26.5 38.5 21.0 

1923----------------------------------- 44.9 24.0 49.8 26.1 39.7 21.7 

1922----------------------------------- 45.5 24.0 50.9 26.1 39.7 21.8 

1921----------------------------------- 44.6 24.8 50.0 27.3 38.8 22.1 

-----.--- 24.9 26.8 22.9 

1919----------------------------------- 24.4 25.8 22.8 

1918----------------------------------- 25.? 26.6 23.9 

1917----------------------------------- 24.9 27.4 22.3 

1916----------------------------------- -a- 24.1 26.3 22.9 

1915----------------------------------- 24.7 26.3 22.9 

1914 23.0 25.4 20.6 

1913 23.4 26.2 20.4 

1920--,-------


1912----------------------------------- 23.0 25.1 20.7 

1911----------------------------------- 23.1 26.0 20.1 

1910----------------------------------- 23.1 24.9 21.2 

1909----------------------------------- 23.2 25.2 21.2 

1908----------------------------------- 23.6 25.4 21.8 

1907----------------------------------- 24.0 26.5 21.4 

1906----------------------------------- 22.6 24.3 20.9 

1905----------------------------------- 23.8 25.0 22.5 

1904----------------------------------- 23.5 26.0 20.9 

1903----------------------------------- 23.5 26.4 20.5 

1902----------------------------------- 23,6 25.8 21.4 

1901----------------------------------- 24.2 26.2 22.1 

39 ,

-----------------------------------------------------------------

----------------

--------

---------

---------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------

----------------

------------------------ ------------------

------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------

---

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---

---

---

---

---

---

Table 3. Infant mor’calicy rates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62


Cause of deathl 1962 1961


All causes


Infective and parasitic diseases (001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768)


Influenza and pnemonia---------------------------------------------(48O-493, 763)


All other diseises of respir~cory system; diseases of the circulatory system;


and certain diseases of ear and mastoid process (390-394.400-475.500-527)


Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, and col~tis, including-diarrhea


of newborn --------------------------------------------(543,571,572,764)


All other diseases of digestive system------------------(53O-542,544-57O,573-587)


Congenital malfo2tiations------------------------------------------------(75O-759)


Birth injuries----------------------------------------------------------(76O, 761)


Intracranial and spinal injury at birth-----------------------------------(76O)


Other birth injury--------------------------------------------------------(761)


Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis------------------------------------------(762)


Hemolytic diseases of newborn (erythroblastosis)----------------------------(77O)


Immaturity with mention of any other subsidiary condition,
 or unqualified (774,776


Other defined and ill-defined diseases peculiar to early infancy----(769,7773773{


Symptoms and ill.-definedconditions---------------------------------(78O-793, 795)


&_ill~& diseases-----.--.-------------------------------.------------(Residual)


-----.-------------------------------------------------------(E8OO-E999)


Cause of deathl


All causes


In<ective and parasitic diseases (001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768)


Intluenza and pneumonia ---------------------------------------------(48O-493,763)


All other diseases of respiratory system; diseases of the circulatory system;


and certain diseases of ear and mastoid process--------(39O-3475,5004527)OO-527)


Gastritis, duodentitis, enteritis, and colitis, including diarrhea


of newborn ---------------------------------------------------.-(543,57l,572, 764)


All other diseases of digestive system------------------ (530-542,544-570,573-587


Congenital malformations ------------------------(750-759)


Birth injuries ----------------------------------------(760,761)


Intracranial and spinal injury at birth-----------------------------------(76O)


Other birth injury--------------------------------------------------------(76l)


Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis 762)


Hemol.yticdiseases of newborn (er throblastosis)---------------------------- [770)


Immaturity with mention of any otxer subsidiary condition,
 or unqualified-.-.----------.-------------.----------------------------(774, 776)


Other defined end ill-defined diseases peculiar to early infancy----(769,7773)73)


Symptoms and ill-defined conditions---------------------------------(78O-793, 795)


All other diseases (Residual)


Accidents ........-.........---------------------------------------..---
(E800-E999)


20.0 21.8 

0.5 0.6


1.0 1.1


0.2 0.3


0.3 0.4


::: :::


2.3 2.8


2.2


;:;


4.2 %:


0.4 0.4


3.1 3.3


::$’ U


0.4 0.5


0.3 0.4 ‘


1946 1945


45.8 48.3


4.3 4.7


9.3 8.5


0.9 1.1


3.7 ,.


0.3 ;:$


6.1
 ;:; 2.1


12.8 12.3


3.7 5.3


0.8


;::


0.6 :::


lThe Seventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (1955) was used to clas­


sify causes of death,for 1958-62; the Sixth Revision of the International Classification of Dis­
 eases (1948) for 1951-57; the International List of Causes of Death of 1938 for 1941-50;


and the I,nterscandinavianNomenclature of Causes of Death of 1926 for 1931-40.


40 
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--- ---

---

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---

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---

---

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---

---

Table 3. Infant mortalityrates by cause of death: Denmrk, 1931-62—COn.


1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947


Rate per 1,000 live births


21.5 22.4 22.41 23.4 24.9 25.2 26.9 27.2 28.9 28.8 30.7 34.5 35.3 40.4 

0.6 0.5 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.3 1.4 

1.4 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 3.2 ;:; 3.5 3.9 5.3 ::: ::; ::; 

0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.3 

0.5 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.8 0.9 ::: 0.2 0.2 0.3 ::; 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 ::: ::: ;:: 

$; 4.4 4.5 4.0 ;.; M 4.1 4.9 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.4 4.5 

2.4 2.2 . 3.2 3.0 2.8 3.4 3.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 ;$! 

2:3 $:: 2.6 ;:; 0.4 ;:: ;:: ::< M 0.2 U ;:; M 4.5 4.2 4.7 4.4 3.5 

0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 ::; ;:: ;:: ::; 0.5 

3*O ;.; 2.8 3.4 3.3 4.1 9.8 10.6 10.6 11.7 ;:: ::: ::2 M 3.9 3.1 2.7
 ::; 0:4 0.3 ;:2 ::; ;:: 0.6 0.5 0.6 M ;:;
 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.6 ::2 0.6 0.5 0.7 ::; ::: 0.7


0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.8 1.0 0.9


— —


1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931


——-


47.7 44.8 47.0 55.0 50.2 58.1 58.7 66.1 67.3 71.0 64.4 67.6 72.3 81.4
 —


4.6 

8.8 ;:: 

3.5 

9.9 

4.4 

15.1 1?:: 12; 1’2:;12; 1;:; 4.9 1;:?16.2 

5.6 

19.5 

8.3 

18.8 2;:; 

1.2 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.1 1.0 1.6 1.0 1.1 1.6 1.9 

3.9 2.6 3.1 3.7 4.3 5.1 5.4 6.1 6.1 6.9 8.1 8.1 

O*4 ;:; 0.3 0.4 ;:; 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.8 

5.5 5.4 5.7 ;.: 6.3 ::$ 6.3 7.2 6.5 6.6 5.8 6.3 5.6 6.1 

1,9 1.9 2.0 . 2.6 3.2 3.2 2.9 2.9 2.7 3.1 2.6 2.5 2.6 

-..


..-


... -.. -..


12.7 11.0 l:.! 10.8 10.9 10.3 1;.: 13.1 12.7 13.3 11.9 11.7 12.7 12.6


5.7 5.9 5.5 7.1 6.4 7.1 6.3 6.8


1.3 2:0 1..7 ;:: 1:7 2.4 ;:; 2.5 ;:; 3.2 ;:: 3.6


0.9 H ;:: 2.7 4.0


0.8 0.7 ;:2 0.6 ;:; ;:: ;:2 0.7 ::: ;:; 0.9 ::; ;:; ;::


41 
-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------

----------------

-----------------------------------------------------

---------------------------- ---------------------

----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------

---

---

---

---

----

----

---

Table 4. Neonatal mortalityrates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62


Cauae of deathl 1962 1961


All causes 152.6 165.5 

Infectiveand parasiticdiseases----------------(001-138,
 340-344,690-695,765-768 1.9 2.L


Influenzaand pneumonia--7------------------------------------------(48O-493,763
 1 2.1 1.6


All other diseases of respiratorysystem; diseaaes of the circulatorysystem;


and certaindiseases of ear and mastoid process--------(39O-3475,5004527)OO-527) 0.1 0..1


Gastritis,duodenitis,enteritis,and colitis, includingdiarrhea


of newborn (543,571,572,764 0.1 0.9 

All other diseases of digestive system------------------(53O-542,544-57O,573-587 I.1$ 

Congenitalmlformtions ------------------------------------------------ 750-759 2;:; 25.3


Birth injuies [760,761I 23.1 ;;.:
 Intracranialand spinal injury at birth-----------------------------------(76O18.6


Other birth injwy--------------------------------------------------------(76l 1
 5:6


Postnatalasphyxia and atelectaais------------------------------------------(762)
 4::! 50.7


Hemolytic diseasea of newborn (er throblastosis)----------------------------(77O) . 3.(+


Immeturit with mention of any otxer subsidiarycondition,
 or unqua ‘?
ified (774,776 31.4 32.44


Other defined and ill-defineddiseases peculiar to early infancy----(769,7773773 1
 18.2 16.!$


Symptomsand ill-definedconditions---------------------------------(78O-793,795)
0.6 0.”1


All other diseases (Residual 1.2 0.!)


Accidents (E800-E999 1 0.1 ().
”1


—— .

. 

Cause of deathl 1946 1945 

—. 

All causes 235.5 248. (I — , 

Infectiveand parasiticdiseases (001-138, 340-344,690-695,765-768) 6.3 7.7

Influenzaand peumonia---------------------------------------------(48O-493, 76)
 6.1 7.#

All other diseases of respiratorysystem; diseases of the,circulatorysystem;


and certain diseaaea of ear and mastoid process--------(39O-3475,5004527)OO-527) 0.7 1.1 

Gastritis,duodenitia,enteritis,and colitis, includingdiarrhea 

of newborn (543,571,572,764 9.? 

All other diseases of digestive system------------------(53O-542,544-57O,573-587 1 ;;$

Congenitalmalformations (750-759) 31.2 3::$ 

Birth injtiiea----------------------------------------------------------(76O, 761
 25.4 20. !i

Intracranialand spinal injury at birth-----------------------------------(76O
 ~ Other birth injay--------------------------------------------------------(76l 

Postnatalasphyxia and atelectasis------------------------------------------(762 ..-., ~ Hemolytic diseases of newborn (erythroblastosis)----------------------------(77O) 

Immaturitywith mention of any other subsidiarycondition,
 or mqualified---------------------------------------------------------(774,776
 121.0 1::.;1 

Other defined and ill-defineddiseases peculiar to”early infancy----(769,7773773 1 31.5

Symptomsand ill-definedconditims---------------------------------(78O-793,795);.; 2::; 

All other diaeases (Residual) 1.L 

Accidents (E800-E999) 1:4 1.8 

lThe Seventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (1955)WaS used to clas-


sify causes of death for 1958-62; the Sixth Revisionof the InternationalClassificationof Dis­
 eases (1948)for 1951-57; the InternationalList of Causes of Death of 1938 for 1941-50;and the


lInterscandinavian
 Nomenclatureof Causes of Death of 1926 for 1931-40.


42

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---

---

---

---

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--- ---

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Table 4. Neonatalmoralityrates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62—Ccm.
 —


1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947


Rate per 10,000 live births


161.1 162.9 161.5 164.4 176.6 179.4 180.0 185.8 193.3 183.2 L82.1	 191.0 190.9 220.1
 —


M ::: 1.7 

3.8 

2.1 

1.8 

2.2 

2.1 

2.0 

3.4 ;:; 

3.3 

2.1 

2.6 

3.4 

3.3 

3.3 

$.: 

. ::; 2:? 

0.1 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.9 

0.7 0.9 1.2 0.4 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.8 2.0 5.5 

R ::: ::2 1.2 

2;:: 2::: 2::: 2::; 2;:; 24.2 3;:; 29.2 2::: 2;:: 24.0 24.1 2::; 

23.5 24.6 21.4 ;;.; 30.6 29.2 27.6 32.6 30.6 20.7 23.0 21.5 24.6 

20.8 20.9 , 25.8 26.3 25.4 30.0 29.0 

4::! 4;:; 4;.; 4::; 42:! 3;:; 3;:; 3::: 3;:: . . . 4.7 6.4 4.1 5.8 6.5 4.4 

32.1 28.1 27.1 34.0 33.7 29.3 33.1 32.5 38.9 95.9 103.5 102.3 L12.3 

24.0 29.3 31.4 3;.; 3:.: 4;.; 41.9 46.3 37.1 28.0 27.3 24.4 32.2 

0.5 0.4 1.5 1.2 0.8 1.4 0.9 

1:0 1:4 0:9 i:; ;:2 0.9 ;:; 1.0 

M ;:: ::: 1.2 0.3 0.9 0.6 1.2 M 1.4 ;:: 2.4 1.6 

—
 — — — 

1944 L943 1942 1941 L940 L939 1938 L937 1936 1935 L934 L933 1932 L931


242.1 228.9 235.6 237.0	 251.6 Z75.O 272.4 290.2 291.3 291.1 289.0 292.1 295.1
 —


7.4 6.6 7.4 7.0 9.1 8.5 11.3 12.0 12.1 8.8 9.6 9.3 

5.4 6*6 7.4 7.2 U 11.3 8.3 14.1 13.9 12.1 1::? 15.6 13.5 14.5 

0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.9 0.3 1.4 1.4 

5.8 3.9 4.2 5.6 .3.8 4.4 5.9 6.4 6.9 6.5 11.6 7.3 

R ::: 

3;:; 

17.9 

3;:; 

19.0 

31.9 

19.7 

3::; 

27.2 

36.5 

25.8 

$: . 4?:$ 

29.2 

4;:: 

28.0 

3;:+ 

28.6 

3M 

26.4 

3::; 

30.3 

3;:: 

25.8 

3::: 

25.2 

3::+ 

26.1 

121..7 103.1 108.7 103.5 102.7 98.3 106.1 124.9 119.7 126.3 1;:.; L1l.O 117.9 117.8


45.0 49.1 50.5 43.0 60.3 6;.: 63.3 54.7 57.7 57.2 53.1 60.6 57.7


3.3 3.2 3.9 3.7 5.6 5.3 6.4 10:0 .11.8 11.9 1;.;


2.1 ;:; 2:9 2.6 ::: 2.9 4.8 :.; 4.0


M 1,5 ::$ 1.1 ;:; 1.8 2.9 M 1.5 2.8 1.7 . 2.5 2:2


43

-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------

----------------

-----------------------------------------------------

------------------

-----------------------------------

------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------

--------

---------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------

---

---

---

---

---

---

--

Table 5. Postneonatal mortality rates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62
 —. 

Cause of deathl L962 1961


—.


All causes - 47.8 

Infective and parasitic diseases (001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768) 3.3


Influenza and vneumonia---------------------------------------------(48O-493. 763) 7,8


All other dise&es of respiratory system; diseases of the circulator~ systam~ “
 and certain diseases of ear and mastoid process--------(39O-3475,5004527)OO-527) 1.9


Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, and colitis, including diarrhea


of newborn (543>571,572,764) 3.3


All other diseases of di~estive system (530-542.544-570.573-587)


Congenital @lfo-tions~------------------------------------------------ 750-759’ 1:::


Birth injuries.............................................-------------[760(J~~ -


Intracranial and spinal injury at birth


Other birth injury--------------------------------------------------------(76l 

Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis 7621 0.; 

Hemolytic diseases of newborn (erythroblastosis)................------------[770) 0.4 

Immaturity with mention of any other subsidiary condition, or unqualified (774,776


Other defined and ill-defined diseases peculiar to early infancy----(769,77737731


Symptoms and ill-defined conditions---------------------------------(78O-793,795) M
 All other diseases (Residual 3.2


Accidents (E800-E999) 2.4


Cause of deathl 1946


All causes 222.7


Infective and parasitic diseases----------------(001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768) 36.5


Influenza and pneumonia---------------------------------------------(48O-493,763) 86.8


All other diseases of respiratory system; diseases of the circulatory system;


and certain diseases of ear and mastoid process-------- (39O-3475,5004527)OO-527) 8.7


Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, and colitis, including diarrhea


of newborn (543,571,572,764 29.9


All other diseases of digestive system------------------(53O-542,544-57O,573-587 1


Congenital mlfo-tions------------------------------------------------(75O-759 2$:;


Birth injuries----------..----------------------------------------------(76O, 7611 1.5


Intracranial and spinal injury at birth 760


Other birth injury-------------------------------------------------------- 761


Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis ------------------------------------------ 762


Hemolytic diseases of newborn (erythroblastosis)----------------------------(77O
 V


Immaturity with mention of any other subsidiary condition,


or unqualified ..............------------------........---------(774,776) 6.2


Other defined and ill-defined diseases peculiar to early infancy---- 769,771-773) 5.0 

Symptoms and ill-defined conditions [780-793,795) 9.0 

All other diseases---..-----..---.------.-.----....--------------------(Residual) 9.8 

Accidents (E800-E999) 5.0 

52.6
 ——
 ——


3.7 

9.4 

2.6 

. 

. 

0.; 

0.3 

0,1 

;:; 

4.3 

3.L 

— -

1945


—.


234. j
 —-


39.7


76. :


9.”3


42. ?


2:::


0. j


-,.
.


.


6, z


9,1i


6.,)


8.1


7,3


—.


lThe Seventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (1955) was used to clas­


sify causes of death for 1958-62; the Sixth Revision of the International Classification of Dis­
 eases (1948) for 1951-57; the International List of Causes of Death of 1938 for 1941-50; and th?


Interscandinavian Nomenclature of Causes of Death of 1926 for 1931-40.


44

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---

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---

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Table 5. Postneonataimortality rates by cause of death: Denmark, 1931-62--Con.


1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947


Rate per 10,000 live births


61.6 62.8 69.2 72.9 72.2 88.4 86.4 95.7	 105.3 125.3 153.8 161.7 184.3
 — — — —


1;:; I::t 1;:: 5.9 

15.9 

5.5 

17.0 22:; 

8.8 

26.1 

10.9 

33.0 

10.8 

35.8 

10.6 

50.4 

23.0 

63.2 

24.5 

60.0 

20.4 

76.2 

6.5 6.3 5.6 6.9 7.7 7*3 8.2 5.9 8.1 6.5 8.4 9.5 11.8 

5.8 5.1 8.3 ;.; 8.2 7.6 8.7 11.0 14.0 20.4 ::; w ::; 17.4 20.5 1;:; 2;:; 16.9 1%: 19;2 1::2 1;:: 2::: 1;:: 2?:; 2;:; 

0.3 0.3 0.1 2.0 1.3 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.2 1.2 0.6 

0.3 0,3 2.0 1.3 1.0 0,6 0.8 6:: 

0.1 

0.; 0.; 0.; 0.; 0.; 0.; 0.5 ::: 0.1 ::: 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.9 0.4 

0.3 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.9 4.1 5.0


0.8 1.1 1.5 ::; ::; 2.9


3.1 ::: M M H M M 6.0 5.0 ;:$ 8.5


3.7 ;:; ::; 4.0 5.2 3.8 5.3 3.9 5.7 5.5 6.0


3.8 4.6 4.3 ::: 5.7 5.6 6.1 6.5 7.2 8.0 6.8 ;:: 7.5


— 

1944 1943 1942 1941 L940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931


234.8 219,3 234.0 312,4 ~49,9 305.6 315.2 370.4 382.3 !19.3 355.4 399.7 — 

430.8 518.9
 _


38.2 30.0 27.7 37.4 31.1 47.4 40.0 42.0 61.1 75.6 39.8 47.6 73.2 65.2


82.4 87.0 91.8 144.1 L04.1 136.6 L37.3 170.2 158.5 L65.5 147.3 178.2 173.3 242.6


11.7 11.5 12.8 14.7 10.0 11.6 14.9 11.1 9.5 15.5 9.4 10.4 14.8 17.6


33.2 23,0 24.5 26.5 25.0 31.2 39.6 46.7 48.2 54.6 54.4 62.8 69.0 7:.:


2,4


2$; 21.9 2;:; 2’N 22:; 2::$ 2::; 28:: 2%; 28:: 2;:; 2;:; 2::; 24:4


1.2 0.5 0.8 0.8 0.3 0.7 . 0.6 0.4 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.2
 -..


4.2 5.8 4.7 5.7 6,2 6.8 6.3 6.4 

l::! ::2 1::: 12.2 11.1 11.6 13.3 9.5 14.3 13.3 1::; 10.2 1::; ::; 

11.9 15.7 16.3 13.7 12.7 11.5 18.2 14.2 18.9 16.9 20.7 19.3 23.2 

8:2 

6.9 

10.0 

5.0 

1;.; � 

18.9 

4.6 

12.4 

5.3 

20.5 

4.6 

22.1 

3,2 

24.9 

5.5 

33.9 

4.5 

29.6 

4.1 

35.0 

7.2 

29.9 

3.2 

27.8 

4.0 

41.7 

5.9 

45

--------------------------------

Table 6. Infant mortalityrates among malea by.— age: Denmark, 1901-62


H I I 1 I I 

Under Under Under 1-6 ; $O:;h;o 1-5 6-11


Year L year 7 days~ 1 dayl daysl months months


Rate per 1,000 male live births 

1962-------------------------------- 22.8 15.6 5.7 9.9 2.(I 3.5 1.7 

1961-------------------------------- 24.7 16.4 6.1 10.3 2.5 4.0 1.8 

1960-------------------------------- 23.9 15.8 5.2 10.6 2.3 4.3 1.5 

1959-------------------------------- 25.7 16.3 6.6 9.7 2.8 4.9 1.7 

1958-------------------------------- 25.7 16.0 5.8 10.2 2.6 5.0 2.1 

1957-------------------------------- 27.2 16.3 6.1 10.2 2.8 5.6 2.5 

1956-------------------------------- 29.1 18.1 7.5 10.6 2.6 5.8 2.6 

1955-------------------------------- 27.6 17.8 7.3 10.5 2.0 5.7 2.1 

1954-------------------------------- 31.1 18.7 7.5 11.2 2.6 6.5 3.3 

1953-------------------------------- 31.2 18.9 8.9 10.0 2.8 6.3 3.2 

1952-------------------------------- 32.6 19.9 9,3 10.6 2.6 6.2 3.9 

1951-------------------------------- 32.4 18.3 8.1 10.2 2.6 7.5 4.0 

1950-------------------------------- 35.4 18.0 8.9 9.1 3.3 9.4 4.7 

1949 39.0 18.3 8.6 9.7 3.6 11.7 5.4 

1948-------------------------------- 40.2 18.1 8.1 10.0 3.9 11.7 6.5 

1947-------------------------------- 45.9 20.4 9.5 10.9 5.4 13.2 6.9 

1946-------------------------------- 51.3 20.7 9.5 11.2 6.1 16.1 8.4 

1945-------------------------------- 54.1 21.1 9.1 12.0 7.2 18.4 7.4 

1944-------------------------------- 53.1 21.4 10.1 11.3 6.1 17.1 8.5 

1943-------------------------------- 51.3 21.1 10.0 11.1 5.8 16.1 8.?, 

1942-------------------------------- 53.9 21.2 10.0 11.2 6.5 17.0 9.2 

1941-------------------------------- 62.9 22.4 9.8 12.6 5.9 19.6 15.0 

1940-------------------------------- 56.3 22.8 10.7 12.1 5.8 16.4 11.3 

1939-------------------------------- 64.5 24.0 11.0 13.0 5.9 21.2 13.4 

1938-------------------------------- 65.9 24.2 11.5 12.7 5.8 21.0 14.5 

1937-------------------------------- 75.1 26.1 12.1 14.0 7.0 25.8 16.2 

1936-------------------------------- 76,6 25.4 12.0 13.4 7.3 27.0 16.$ 

1935-------------------------------- 80.6 26.0 14.8 11.2 7.4 28.9 18.2 

1934-------------------------------- 73.5 25.7 13.7 12.0 7.L 26.4 14.: 

1933-------------------------------- 76.0 24.3 13.0 11.3 6.3 31.1 14.3 

1932-------------------------------- 79.5 23.9 12.2 11.7 7.9 32.0 15.7 

1931-------------------------------- 93.0 24.8 13.2 11.6 8.3 38.2 21.; 

46

----------------------

--------------------------------

-----------------------

--------------------------------

--------------------------- -----

----------------------------- ----

---------------------------- ----

--------- -----

--------------------------------

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Table 6. Infantmortality rates among males by age: Denmark, 1901-62—Cc)n. 

Year Under Under Under 1-6 I ; daph:o1-5 6-11 

1 year 7 daysl 1 dayl days1 months months 

1930------.--- 89.1


1929-------------------------------- 93.7


1928 89.5


1927-------------------------------- 92.9


1926-------------------------------- 94.5


1925.........----------------------- 90.5


1924-------------------------------- 97.6


~923-------------------------------- 91.9


1922..-------- 96.0


1921-------------------------------- 85.8


1920-------------------------------- 99.4


1919 101.1


1918-------------------------------- 82.6


1917--------------------------------112.9


1916--------------------------------110.8


1915--------------------------------107.4


1914--------------------------------109.8


1913--------------------------------103.7


1912 104.5


1911--------------------------------115.2


1910 111.9


1909--------------------------------108.8


1908 135.3


1907--------. .-------- 120.7


1906--------------------------------120.0


1905--------------------------------132.1


1904--------------------------------125.9


1903--------------------------------126.7


1902 126.8


1901--------------------------------148.9


lBasedon calendardays since birth.


Rate per 1,000 male live births


24.5 13.4 11.1 10.6 

27.1 14.5 12.6 10.5 

25.7 13.6 12.1 11.3 

24.7 12.0 12.7 10.6 

24.7 12.1 12.6 11.1 

22.2 10.4 11.8 1000 

25.2 11.7 13.5 11.5 

24.3 11.6 12.7 11.0 

25.5 12.1 13.4 11.8 

23.4 11.7 11.7 11.5 

11.8 23.9 

11.1 24.9 

1106 23.9 

12.6 27.5 

13.7 23.0 

13.6 24.4 

11.6 27.8 

13.8 22.6 

11.1 25.9 

10.6 28.5 

11.5 27.5 

13.8 26.6 

13.0 31.7 

12.9 30.5 

12.6 30.2 

12.6 30.7 

12.5 31.0 

12.6 31.1 

12.6 30.5 

12.3 33.8 

36.3 17.7


37.7 18.4


33.6 18.9


36.2 21.4


36.5 22.2


36.7 21.6


37.9 23.0


36.2 20.4


37.5 21.2


34.1 16.8


41.7 22.0


39.7 25.4


29.6 17.5


45.6 27.2


45.0 29.1


43.4 26.0


46.9 23.5


44.3 23.0


44.9 22.6


51.7 24.4


49.4 23.5


44.3 24.1


59.4 31.2


49.1 28.2


52.6 24.6


57.9 30.9


55.9 26.5


54.0 29.0


52.5 31.2


67.2 35.6


47

---------------

-------------------

-------- ----------------

---------------------------------

----------------------

---------------------------- ----

--------- ----

----------------------

--------------------------- ----

------------ ---------------------

--------------------- -------------

Table 7. Infant mortalityratea among females by age: Denmark, 1901-62


.— 

Under I Under Under 1-6 I

7 days to 1-5 6-11
 Year 1 year 7 days[ 1 dayt daysl 1 monthl months months


Rate per 1,000 female live births 

1962----.-----.----- 17.1 10.7 4.0 6.7 2.1 2.8 1.5 

1961------------------------------- 18.7 12.7 4.8 7.9 1.4 3.2 1.4 

1960------------------------------- 19.0 11.9 4.2 7.7 2.1 3.2 1.8 

1959------------------------------- 19.0 11.2 4.4 6.8 2.1 4.2 1.5 

1958------------------------------- 18.9 11.2 4.3 6.9 2.3 3.8 1.6 

1957------------ 19.2 11.5 4.5 7.0 2.0 3.7 2.0 

1956------------------------------- 20.5 12.3 5.4 6.9 2.2 3.8 2.2 

1955------------------------------- 22.5 13.5 6.3 7.2 2.4 4.8 1.8 

1954------------------------------- 22.3 12.1 5.6 6.5 2.4 5.0 2.8 

1953------------------------------- 22.9 13.4 6.4 7.0 1.9 5.0 2.6 

1952------------------------------- 24.9 13.5 6,5 700 2.5 5.5 3.4 

1951------------------------------- 25.0 13.3 6.6 6.7 2.1 6.2 3.4 

1950------------------------------- 25.8 12.8 6.0 6.8 2.2 6.9 3*9 

1949------------------------------- 29.6 13.4 6.1 7.3 2.6 9.1 4.5 

1948------------------------------- 30.0 12.7 5.6 7.1 3.2 9.3 4.8 

1947 ----.---- 34.7 13.8 5.8 8.0 4.2 10.1 6.6 

1946 40.0 15.2 7.4 7.8 5.0 12.8 7.0 

1945“-------- 42.1 15.9 7.9 8.0 5.3 14.5 6,4 

1944 41.8 16.1 7.5 8.6 4.5 13.7 7.5 

1943------------------------------- 37.8 14.7 7.0 7.7 3.9 12.6 6.6 

1942 -------..----.------ 39.7 15.0 6.4 8.6 4.2 12.5 8.0 

1941-“--.---” 46.5 14.7 6.4 8.3 4.1 16.2 1105 

1940------------------------------- 43.7 17.0 8.2 8.8 4.6 13.3 8.8 

1939------------------------------- 51.2 19.9 9.5 10.4 5.0 14.9 11.4 

1938------------------------------- 51.2 19.6 8.6 11.0 4.8 15.4 1.1*4 

1937 56.6 19.0 9.1 9.9 5.7 18.8 13.1 

1936------------------------------- 57.6 19.0 9.1 9.9 6.3 20.2 12.L 

1935 6008 18.9 11.0 7.9 5.6 20,8 15.5 

1934 54.7 18.9 10.0 8.9 5.8 19.5 10,5 

1933------------------------------- 58.6 18.9 10.2 8.7 5.6 21.4 12.7 

1932------------------------------- 64.7 19.6 10.3 9,3 6.9 23.2 15.0 

1931------------------------------- 69,0 18.4 10.3 8,1 7.3 26.2 17,1 

48

-------------------------

------------------------

---------- ------------------------

--------------------------------

-------- --------

-------------------

----- --------------

------------

----------------

----------------

--------------------------------

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

p’? 

Table 7. Infa’,~t
 mortalityrates among females by age: Denmark, 1901-62—Ccm.


II I I 

Under II Under Under 1-6 7 days to 1-5 6-11 

Year 1 year 7 daysl I &.yt Idays1 1 monthl months montha 

‘Rateper 1,000 female live births 

1930-------------------------------- 70.3 19.3 10.4 8.9 8.1 27.5 15.4 

1929“-------- 71.6 20.1 10.5 9.6 8.9 26.5 16.1 

1928----.--” 71.6 20.3 10.1 10.2 8.7 25.0 17.6 

1927-------------------------------- 73.5 19.3 9.7 9.6 9.3 27.6 17.3 

1926................----------------- 73.7 18.3 9.3 9.0 8.4 28.3 18.7 

1925-------------------------------- 68.6 16.5 8.6 7.9 8.6 26.9 16.6 

1924---------------------------------70.7 17,9 8.5 9.4 8.0 26.1 18.7 

1923-------------------------------- 73.4 18.4 8.9 9.5 8.5 28.4 18.1 

1922 74.1 18.4 8.5 9.9 10.4 27.2 18.1 

1921-------------------------------- 67.7 17.0 8.4 8.6 9.9 26.0 14.8 

1920-------------------------------- 80.6 8.1 19.2 34.2 19.1 

1919 81.4 8.3 21.2 28.8 23.1 

1918-------------------------------- 65.3 8.0 19,1 23.1 15.1 

1917-------------------------------- 85.7 9.0 21.0 33.3 22.4 

1916-------------------------------- 88.3 9.1 18.2 35.5 25.5 

1915-------------------------------- 81.9 9.7 18.3 33.5 20.4 

1914-------------------------------- 86.2 8.2 20.6 36.8 20.6 

1913-.--”-.,. ..------ 83.0 10.3 18.0 34.7 20.0 

1912-“-”--.”. .“#--- 81.3 7.7 1905 34.5 19,6 

1911-------------------------------- 95.8 8.9 23.3 41.7 21.9 

1910-------------------------------- 92.1 9.3 21.8 40.6 20.4 

1909-------------------------------- 86.1 9.0 20.4 34.7 22.0 

1908-.-“.. “.-“.--- 110.8 9.5 25.3 47.8 28.2 

1907-------------------------------- 95.5 10.4 21.3 38.3 25.5 

1906-------------------------------- 97.2 9.8 23.7 41.6 22.1 

1905-------------------” 109.2 10.4 25.0 47.0 26.8 

1904-------------------------------- 96.3 8.4 23.9 40.7 23.3 

1903--,--”-------.-”- 104.6 10.6 24.4 43.6 26.0


1902-.-.”--- .,----.-- 100.2 9.2 23.2 40.5 27.3


190L 119.1 10.1 25.8 52.1 31.1


‘Based on calendardays since birth.

------------------------ --

----------------------------------

----------------------------------

--------------------------- -------

----------------------------------

--------------------------------

----------------------------------

v y 

Table 8. Infant mortalityratea by legitimacyand age: Denmwk, 1931-62


Under 1 year Under 7 daya[ Under 1 dayl


Year


E


i962----------------------------------


1961----------------------------------


1960----------------------------------


1959----------------------------------


1958----------------------------------


1957----------------------------------


1956----------------------------------


1955----------------------------------


1954----------------------------------


1953----------------------------------


1952 .-------


1951----------------------------------


1950----------------------------------


1949----------------------------------


1948


1947----------------------------------


1946


1945----------------------------------


1944----------------------------------


1943----------------------------------


1942


1941----------------------------------


1940----------------------------------


1939----------------------------------


1938


1937----------------------------------


1936----------------------------------


1935----------------------------------


1934


1933----------------------------------


1932


1931----------------------------------


I 

Legit- 1

I;W&t- Legit- 1::::­

imate imate 

Rate per 1,000 ive births of specifiedlegitimacy


18.9 31.8 12.3 22.7 4.6 7.ti 

20.9 31.9 13.7 24.2 5.1 9.1; 

20.8 30.2 13.3 21.3 4.4 8.4 

21.4 34.8 13.2 21.0 5.2 9./1 

21.2 37.8 12.8 26.0 4.8 9.3 

22.3 38.1 13.2 25.1 5.1 9.() 

24.1 36.1 14.5 24.6 6.2 9*7 

24.3 37.0 15.1 24.1 6.5 11.!i 

26.0 39.2 14.7 25.5 6.2 11.). 

26.3 40.2 15.3 28.7 7.2 14,!! 

27.6 46.3 15.9 29.4 7.5 14.tl 

28.0 40.0 15.i 26.8 7.0 12.:1 

29.4 47.6 14.4 29.1 6.9 14.:! 

33.3 49.6 15.3 24.4 7.0 12.:! 

34.2 48.7 15.0 21.2 6.6 10.:! 

38.3 65.6 16.3 27.6 7.3 13.(I 

42.7 82.6 17.1 28.3 8.1 12.& 

45.0 78.0 17.1 31.9 7.7 16.:: 

44.8 76.2 17.7 29.9 8.5 12.2 

42.5 68.4 17.1 27.6 8.0 14.2 

44*4 75.3 17.0 31.4 7.6 16.1 

53.4 71.7 17.9 26.2 7.7 12.[, 

48.3 69.1 19.0 30.3 8.7 17.2 

55.8 82.2 21.0 32.5 9.6 ~7eL 

56.4 83.0 20.6 36.3 9.4 17.6 

64.4 83.2 21.3 36.5 9.7 20.:1 

64.3 100.6 20.7 39.9 9.5 22.2 

68.9 92.9 21.3 36.0 12.0 22*: 

62.4 84.2 21.3 33.0 11.2 19.( 

65.0 90.7 20.4 33.2 10.4 22.6 

69.3 97.9 20.5 32.7 10.5 17.6 

78.3 107.3 20.5 31.9 10.9 19.1 

50

---------------

Table 8. Infant mortalityrates by legitimacyand age: Denmark, 1931-62—Con.


Year


1962----------------


1961----------------


1960----------------


1959----------------


1958----------------


1957----------------


1956----------------


1955----------------


1954----------------


1953----------------


1952----------------


1951----------------


1950----------------


1949----------------


1948----------------


1947----------------


1946----------------


1945----------------


1944----------------


1943----------------


1942----------------


1941”


1940----------------


1939----------------


1938----------------


1937----------------


1936----------------


1935----------------


1934----------------


1933----------------


1932----------------


1931----------------


Rate per 1,000 live births of specifiedlegitimacy


7.7 15.1 1.9 3.7 3.1 3.2 1.6 2.2 

8.6 14.6 1.9 2.1 3.6 4.1 1.7 1.5 

8.9 12.9 2.1 3.0 3.7 4.9 1.7 1.0 

8.0 11.2 2,2 5.7 4.4 6.3 1.6 1.8 

8.0 16.7 2.3 4.6 4.3 5.5 1.8 1.7 

8.1 16.1 2.3 4.6 4.6 5.0 2.2 3.4 

8.3 14.9 2.4 2.5 4.8 5.8 2.4 3.2 

8.6 12.6 2.1 3.8 5.1 7.7 2.0 1.4 

8.5 14.4 2.5 3.5 5.8 6.5 3.0 3.7 

8.1 13.8 2.3 2.8 5.7 6.3 3.0 2.4 

8.4 14.8 2.4 4.2 5.7 8.5 3.6 4.2 

8.1 14.5 2.3 3.0 6.8 7.8 3.8 2.4 

7.5 14.9 2.6 4.7 8.0 10.1 4.4 3.7 

8.3 12.2 3.0 4.4 9.9 17.3 5.1 3.5 

8.4 11.0 3.4 5.7 10.3 13.9 5.5 7.9 

9.0 14.6 4.6 7.6 10.7 23.2 6.7 7.2 

9.0 15.7 5.0 11.8 13.1 32.0 7.5 10.5 

9.4 15.7 5.8 11.2 15.2 27.9 6.9 7.0 

9.2 17.7 4.9 9.8 14.3 27.9 7.9 8.6 

9.1 13.4 4.5 8.6 13.6 22.8 7.3 9.4 

9.4 15.3 4.9 10.1 14.1 23.5 8.4 10.3 

10.2 13.4 5.0 5.9 17.1 26.3 13.4 13.3 

10.3 13.1 4.9 8.3 14.3 21.1 10.1 9.4 

11.4 15.1 5.2 8.7 17.3 26.7 12.3 14.3 

11.2 18.7 5.2 6.4 17.5 26.1 13.1 14.2 

11.6 16.0 6.4 6.2 22.1 24.7 14.6 15.8 

11.2 17.7 6.4 11.5 23.0 31.0 14.2 18.2 

9.3 13.1 6.4 7.4 24.4 31.3 16.8 18.2 

10.1 14.0 6.3 8.5 22.4 29.5 12.4 13.2 

10.0 10.6 5,9 6.7 25.4 35.1 13.3 15.7 

10.0 15.1 7.0 11.1 26.4 38.9 15.4 15.2 

9.6 12.8 7*4 10.9 31.1 43.4 19.3 21.1 

‘Based on calendardays since birth.


51 
------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------- ------------

------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------

----------------- ---------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------- --------------

--------------------------- ------------------

----------------------------- --------------------

------------------------------------ ------------------

------------------------------------------------------

Table 9. Stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates by legitimacy: Denmark, 1931-62


Legitimate Illegitimate


Year Perinatal still- Perinatal stiunortality birth mortality birth 

rate rate rate rate 

I I 

Rate per 1,000 total births


l962------------------------------------------------------


1961


1960


l959------------------------------------------------------


1958


l957------------------------------------------------------


1956


l955------------------------------------------------------


1954


1953


l952------------------------------------------------------


1951


1950


1949


1948


l947------------------------------------------------------


1946


l945------------------------------------------------------


l944------------------------------------------------------


l943------------------------------------------------------


l942------------------------------------------------------


1941


1940


1939 .-------


l938------------------------------------------------------


1937 -----.---


1936 -----..--


l935------------------------------------------------------


l934------------------------------------------------------


l933------------------------------------------------------


1932


1931


24.1 11.9 34.1 11.7 

25.7 12.1 40.9 17.1 

25.5 12.4 34.0 12.9 

27.7 14.6 35.0 14.3 

28.0 15.5 4009 15.3 

28.0 15.0 42.8 18.2 

31.5 17.2 45*1 20.’3 

32.5 17.7 44,2 20.5 

33.2 18.8 50.7 25.& 

33.5 18.4 53.7 25.8 

32.8 17.2 50.9 22.2 

32.9 18.1 52.5 21.1 

32.4 18.3 49.7 21.2 

31.7 16.6 42.4 18.6 

32.3 17.6 42.0 21.2 

33.3 17.4 45.5 18,4 

35*3 18.5 49.0 21.2 

36.1 19.4 51.1 19.E 

36.8 19.4 50.9 21.6 

37.7 21.0 5103 24,L 

37.3 20.7 53.8 23.1 

40.4 22.9 50.0 z4.L 

43.3 24.8 58,9 29.L 

46.6 26.1 58.9 27.:. 

45.1 25.1 60.5 24.:, 

45.9 25.2 63.5 28.1. 

45.6 25.3 68.6 29.;1 

45.3 24.5 65.9 31.CI 

45.8 25.0 62.3 30.:: 

45.2 25.4 61.7 29.!I 

42.7 22.6 58.1 26.:1 

44.1 24.1 53.4 22.1. 

52

-------------------------------

------------------------------

-------------------------------

------------------------------

-------------------------------

----------------------

-------------------------

-------------------------------

------------------------------

-------------------------------

---------------------------- ---

----------------------

Table 10. Infantmortalityrates, by total-birthorder and age: Denmark, 1951-53and 1960-62


ToCal-birthorderl	 Under Under Under 1-6 7 days to 1-5 6-11


1 year 7 days? 1 day? days~ 1 month~ months months


1960-62 Rate per 10,000 live births of specifiedbirth order


Total------------------------- 211.2 139.0 50.2 88.8 20.7 35.1 16.4


First 200.9 139.6 47.0 92.6 20.6 29.2 11.5 

Second 189.1 117.4 41.9 75*5 19.4 35.0 17.3 

Third 208.8 139.1 47.6 91.5 17.5 35.2 17.0 

Fourth 251.7 158.5 71.2 87.3 20.0 48.8 24.4 

Fi.fth 271.0 181.0 75.0 106.0 28.0 41.0 21.0 

Fifth------------------------------Sixth and over 324.2 208.0 78.6 129.4 39.8 L>8.7 27.7


1951-53


Total 283.1 163.3 76.9 86.4 24.1 61.4 34.3
 — — 

FirsC 276.9 179.5 82.4 97.1 24.5 47.0 25.9 

Second 243.2 129.2 63.6 65.6 21.0 57.7 35.3 

Third 271.1 149.0 67.9 81.1 23.1 67.7 31.3 

??ourth 318.9 174.4 84.2 90.2 25.3 78.7 40.5 

Fifth“--------.......--------------- 332.6 189.0 87.2 101,8 20.9 67.3 55.4 

Sixth and over 472.2 255.4 123.0 132.4 42.6 112.7 61.5 

lTota~-birth order refers to all pregnancies ever experienced by mother, tncludingabortions,


miscarriage, stillbirths,and live births.


‘Based on calendardays since birth.


[Ed. note. The slight differences in the rates for the infant period (under 1 year) between


this table and table 11 are due to the distribution of caaes with unknown total-birth order].


53

------------------------------

-------------

------------------------

----------------------

------------------

--------------------------

Table 11. Infant mortality rates, by cause of death and total-birth order: Denmark, 1960-62


Cause of death


(Seventh Revision—


International Lists, 1955)


All causes


Infective and parasitic


diseases---- (001-138,340-344,690-695,765-768)


Influenza and pneumonia----------(48O-493, 763)


All other diseases of respiratory system;


diseases of the circulatory system; and cer­


tain diseases of ear and mastoid


process (390-394,400-475,500-527)


Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, and colitis,


includingdiarrhea ofnewborn-(543,571,572, 764)


All other diseases of digestive


system-------------- 570,5732587)-57O,573-587)


Congenital malformations-------------(75O-759)


Birth injuries----------.------------(76O,76l)


I~~hranial and spinal injury at
 .--------- (760)


Other birth injury---------------------(76l)


Postnatal asphyxia and atelectasis-------(762)


Hemolytic diseases of newborn


(erythroblastosis)----------------------(770)


Immaturity with mention of any other sub­


sidiary condition, or unqualified--.(774,776)


Other defined and ill-defined diseases


peculiar to early infancy-------(76773)l-773)


Symptoms and ill-defined


conditions (780-793,795)


AU other diseases (Residual)


Accidents (E800-E999)


Total-birth orderl


Total 1 2 3 4 5	 6 and
 over


Rate per 10,000 live births of specified


birth order


200.5 189.5 208.8 251.7 272.0 323.1
 —.
 —-


5.5 5.5 5.1 4.3 8.8 5.0 7.8


11.6 7.9 9.7 12.4 21.5 24.0 19.9


3.3 2.6 3.9 3.6 2.9 2.0 5.5


3.7 2.6 4.7 3.1 2.9 8.0 5.5


2.6 2.9 2.6 2.4 3.4 2.0 1.1


44.2 38.2 44.1 45.0 51.2 56.0 64.2


25.7 29.1 18.4 22.7 32.7 29.0 44.3


21.5 25.1 15.4 18.4 27.3 22.0 36.5


4.2 4.0 3.0 4.3 5.4 7.0 7.8


47.5 47.5 42.6 47.9 48.8 56.0 69.7


4.2 1.9 3.0 6.5 10.3 9.0 4.4


31.4 34.0 26.0 28.7 33*7 40.0 47.6


19.0 19.1 17.1 19.2 14.6 27.0 33.2


4.8 3.0 4.2 4.8 11.2 5.0 11.1


4.4 3.9 3.9 4.8 7.3 5.0 3.3


3.3 2.3 4.2 3.4 2.4 4.0 5.5


—­


lTotal-birth order refers to all pregnancies ever experienced.by mother, including abortions,


miscarriages, stillbirths, and live births.


[Ed. note. The slight differences in the rates for all causes between this table and table 10


are due to the distribution of cases with unknown total-birth order~


54

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Table 12. Average infantmortality rates,	by cause of death and occupationof family head: Denmark,


1951 and 1953


Self-employed Salaried
 Self-employed in
 employees
 Cause of death


(SixthRevision-InternationalLists, 1948) Total manufacturing, profe~ional and


construction, services public


and commerce servants


Rate per 10,000 live births of specifiedoccupation


of family head


All causes 280.3 209.1 210.0 219.5


Infectiveand parasitic


diseases--------(OOl-l38,34O-344,69O-695,765-768) 12.5


Influenzaand pneumonia------------­
 (480-493,763) 33.5 2::; 1:::


All other diseasesof respiratorysystem;


diseasesof the circulatorysystem;


and certaindiseasesof ear and


mastoid process (390-394,400-475?500-527) 8.4 5.4 2.1 4.2


Gastritis,duodenitis,enteritis,and col~tis,


includingdiarrheaof newborn---(543,571,572,764) 7.5 3.9 1.0 3.8


All other diseasesof digestive


system-----------------­
 (53O-542,544-570,573-587


Congenitalmalformations (75O-7591 4%: 4;:: 4::: 4?::


Birth injuries--------------------------(76O,
 761) 29.9 24.3 29.1 30.1


Intracranialand spinal injury at birth----(76O) 28.0 23.8 29.1 2;.;


Other birth injury 761)


Postnatalasphyxiaand atelectasis -----------[
762) 3::; 38:: 33.; 32:4


Hemolyticdiseasesof newborn


(erythroblastosis)
 --------------------------(77O) 5.4 6.3 4.2 4.2


Immaturitywith mention of any other subsidiary


condition,or unqualified--------------(774,
 776) 36.6 25.3 22.9 30.6


Other definedand ill-defineddiseasespeculiar


to early infancy-------------------(769,
771-773) 41.5 37.0 32.2 38.5


Symptomsand ill-definedconditions
--(78O-793,795) 5.1 1.0 1.0


All other diseases----------------------(Residual) 5.4 1.9 ::2


Accidents------------------------------(E800-E999) 7.4 2.4 ::; 5.2


;elf-employed Laborers in Domestic


Cause of death in Laborers


(SixthRevision—InternationalLists, 1948) Agriculture, (excluding unknown,
 agriculture, workers,


!orestry,and agriculture) forestry,and and


fishing fishing unspecified


Rate per 10,000 live births of specifiedoccupation


of family head


All causes 258.51 310.0 349.6 434.5


Infectiveand parasitic


diseases (001-138,340-344,690-695
 765-768) 12.5 16.5 15.1 23.6


Influenzaand pneumonia (480-~93, 763) 31.3 34.8 64.2 57.8


All other diseasesof resuiratorvsvstem:


‘-diseases
of the circulat&v svs;em~ ‘
 and certain diseasesof ea% afid ­
 mastoid process (390-394,400-475;500-527) 7.7 12.6 7.8 12.9


Gastritis,duodenitis,enteritis,and col~tis,


includin~diarrheaof newborn---(543.571.572.764) 4.9 8.9 18.5 6.4


All other”diseasesof digestive ‘ ‘ - ‘ “
 system (530-542,544-570,573-587) 6.3


Congenitalmalformations-----------------(75O-759) 4::: 4;:; 52.0 4$:;


Birth injuries (760, 761) 32.0 31.3 25.7 36.4


Intracranialand spinal injury at birth----(760) 28.2 29.9 22.8 34.3


Other birth injury-------------------------(76l) 3.8 1.4 2.9


Postnatalasphyxiaand atelectasis----------­
 (762) 25.8 46.8 29.2 7:::


Hemolyticdiseasesof newborn


(erythroblastosis)
 --------------------------(770) 7.0 4.9 4.4 6.4


Immaturitywith mention of any other subsidiary


condition,or unqualified--------------(774,
 776) 31.7 40.7 44.2 81.3


Other definedend ill-defineddiseasespeculiar


to early infancy-------------------(769,
 771-773) 42.5 49.1 57.8


Symptomsand ill-clef ined conditions--(780-793,
 795) 13.6 6.4


All other diseases (Residual $:; 10.7


Accidents (E800-E999 1
 9.1 1?:: 12.8


55

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Table 13. Infant mortalityrates, by age and mother’s place of residence:Denmark, 1943-62


Capital] Provincialtownsz I Rural districts;l 

Year 

Under Under 7 days- ~ Under Under 7 days1 year 7 days”~ 11 months I 1 year 7 days-k 11 months’! 

ELEzEIE 

Rate per 1,000 live births of specifiedresidence of mother


1962--- 20.2 14.9 5.3 21.2 13.4 7.8 19.5 12.6 (5.,3 

1961--- 24.6 18.1 6.5 22.8 15.8 7.0 20.6 13.0 7.tl 

1960--- 21.1 15.1 6.0 22.9 15.4 7.5 20.9 12.9 8.() 

1959--- 24.1 16.6 7.5 23.8 14.8 9.0 21.4 12.6 8.8 

1958--- 22.5 15.2 7.3 24.6 15.4 9.2 2L.4 12.4 9*O 

1957--- 24.2 16.0 8.2 24.0 14.1 9.9 22.8 13.4 9.4 

1956--- 23.9 17.2 6.7 24.3 15.0 9.3 25.6 14.8 10.U 

1955--- 25.7 18.2 7.5 24.9 16.2 8.7 25.1 14.7 10.1, 

1954--- 22.9 16.3 6.6 28.9 16.5 12.4 27.0 14.7 12.:1 

1953--- 25.8 16.9 8.9 28.7 17.6 11,1 26.9 15.4 11.!1 

1952--- 23.0 16.1 6.9 30.3 17.6 12.7 30,0 16.6 13,1. 

1951--- 24.2 15.8 8.4 30.9 17.4 13.5 29.3 15.2 14.1, 

1950--- 27.4 16.2 11*2 32.4 L6.4 16.0 31.0 14.7 16.:, 

1949--- 28.9 16.5 12.4 35.4 16.5 18,9 35.8 15.5 20,: 

1948--- 31.7 34.8 36.8 

1947--- 38.0 40.6 41.3 

1946--- 43.3 .A- 54.1 42.6 

1945--- 51.2 55.0 43.8 

1944--- 47.8 54.7 44.2 

1943--- 34.5 55.6 43.9 

lCapital:ConsisCs of three municipalities (Copenhagen, Frederiksberg,and Gentofte)with t


total of 923,974 inhabitantsin 1960. These three municipalitiesare completelyurban.


‘Provincialtowns: Consist of 88 towns and cities with a total of 1,242,477inhabitantsir


1960. These 88 towns and cities are completelyurban and most of them have been towns and ci~ie~


for several centuries.


3Rural districts:Consist of about 1,260 municipalitieswith a total of 2,418$835inhabitants


in 1960. Some of these municipalities are partly urban. In 1960, 35 percent of the populationir


the rural districtslived in suburbanor urban areas of 1,000 inhabitantsor more.
 ~~ased on calendardays Since birth.


56

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Table 14. Stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates by mother’s place of residence:


Denmark, 1943-62 , 

Capitati Provincial towns2 Rural districta:s


Year
 Perinatal still- Perinatal still- Perinatal still-


mortality birth mortality birth mortality birth


rate rate rate rate rate rate


Rate per 1,000 total births of specified


residence of mother


1962------------------------------------ 24.4 9.8 25.6 12.3 24.7 12.2


1961 29.7 11.8 28.2 12.5 25.6 12.8


-------------.------------- 24.1 9.1 28.2 13.0 25.9 13.1 

1959-.--”----- 29.0 12.6 30.5 15.9 26.9 14.5 

1958”----------------------------------- 27.3 12.3 31.4 16.2 28.2 16.0 

1957------------------------------------ 29.8 14.0 29.1 15.2 28.8 15.6 

1956------------------------------------ 32.2 15.2 32.3 17.6 32.5 18.0 

1955.......------------ 32.9 15.0 34.6 18.7 32.8 18.3 

1954------------------------------------ 36.2 20.2 35.5 19.2 33.4 19.0 

1953------------------------------------ 35.5 19.0 35.2 17.9 34.6 19.4 

1952-.,---------------- 32.4 16.5 36.0 18.8 33.5 17.2 

1951------------------------------------ 31.6 16.1 35.5 18.5 33.9 18.9 

1950------------------------------------ 35.3 19.3 35.1 19.0 32.4 18.0 

1949 32.8 16.6 34.2 18.0 31.6 16.4 

1948------------------------------------ 15.4 19.7 17.9 

1947------------------------------------ 18.2 18.7 16.5 

1946------------------------------------ 18.1 20.6 18.0 

1945------------------------------------ 17.7 19.9 19.8 

1944----------------”------------------- 18.4 20.7 19.5 

1943------------------------------------ 20.8 21.2 21.5 

1960..--------


‘Ca ital: Consists of three municipalities (Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, and Gentofte) with a
 tota*3,974 inhabitants in 1960. These three municipalities are completely urban.


Cprovinci.altowns: Consist of 88 towns and cities with a total of 1,242,477 inhabitant in


1960. These towns and cities are completely urban and most of them have been towns and cities


for several centuries.


:~Rura~districts: Consist of about 1,260 municipalities with a total of 2,418,835 inhabitants


in 1.960.Some of these municipalities are partly urban. In 1960, 35 percent of the population in


the rural districts lived in suburban or urban areas of 1,000 inhabitants or more.


57

Table 15. Infant mortality rates, by age, cause of death, and mother’s place of residence! Denmark. 1960-62


Cause of death (Seventh Revision.-.


International Lists, 1958)


All causes---------------------


Infective and parasitic diseases


diseases-------------------(001-138:


340-344,690-695,765-768)


Influenza and
 pneumonia----.-.-.-----(48O-493,763)


All other diseases of respira.


tory system; diseases of the
 circulatory systsm; and certain


diseases of ear and mastoid


prOcess----(390-394,400-475,500-527)


Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis,
 and colitis, includin diarrhea
 of newborn---------(5f3,57l,572,764)


All other diseases of digestiva


systsm-----(530-542,544-570,573-587)


Congenital malformations----(7759)59)


Birth injuries--------.-----(76O,761)


Intracranial and spinal injury


at birth---------------------(76o)


Other birth injury-----.-..-.-(76l)


Postnatal asphyxia and


atelectasis--------------------(762)


Hamolytic diseases of newborn
 (erythroblastosis)-------------(770)


Immaturity with mention of any
 other subsidiary condition,
 or unqualified-------------(774,776)


Other defined and ill-defined


diseases peculiar to early


infancy----------------(769,77l-773)


Symptoms and ill-defined


conditions-------------(78O-793,795)


All Other diseases---------(Residual)


Accidents-----------------(E8OO-E999)


Capitall Provincial townst I Rural districts:] 

!1 f 

Under Under Under Under Under Under 1 7 1 7 7 dayayear days4 J %&4 year da;# 11 %n%s4 Ye;r days4 11 months4 I II I 

Rate per 10,000 live births of specified residence of mother


219.6 59.2 222.8 148.7 74.1 203,3 128.5 74.8


4.4 0.: 4.1 5.1 0.5 4.6 6.0 0.6 5.4 

4.9 1.4 3.: 11.6 0.6 11.0 13.6 1.0 12,6 

3.0 3.C 2.7 2.7 3.6 3.6


2.1 2.1 3.2 3.2 4.3 - 4.3 

4.1 0.5 3.6 3.4 1.3 2.1 2.0 1.2 0.8 

45.0 23.6 21.4 44.1 17.2 26.9 43.9 17.6 26.3 

43.6 41.4 2.2 23.2 21.1 2.1 21.8 20.3 1.5 

36.2 34.3 1.9 19.3 17.4 1.9 18.4 16.9 1.5 

7.4 7.1 0.3 3.9 3.7 0.2 3.4 3.4 0.0 

62.8 59.2 3.6 48.3 45.1 3.2 42.8 40.2 2.6 

3.3 2.7 0.6 5.2 4.7 0.5 4.0 3.1 0.9 

24.4 22.2 2.2 38.3 36.2 2.1 30.1 28.8 1,3


11.5 8.5 3.0 25.1 19.8 5.3 1s.2 14.3 3.9


3.3 3.3 4.7 1.1 3.6 5.3 0.6 4.7 

3.6 0.3 3.3 3.9 0.8 3.1 4.8 0.8 4.0 

3.6 0.3 3.3 4.0 0.3 3.7 2.9 0.1 2,8 

lCapital: Consists Of three municipalities (cwdwgm, Frederiksberg, and Gentofte) with a total of 923,974 inhabitants in 1960. These three municipalities are completely urban, 

‘Provincial towns: Consist of 88 towms and cities with a total of 1,242,477 inhabitants in 1960. These 88 towns and
 cities are completely urban and most of tham have been towns and cities for several centuries.


3Rural districts: Consist of about 1,260 municipalities with a total of 2,418,835 inhabitants in 1960. some of these
 municipalities are partly urban. In 1960, 35 percent of the population in the rural districts lived in suburban or
 urban areas of 1,000 inhabitants or more.


‘!
Based on calendar days since birth.


58

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Table 16. Summery of pregnancy outcome: Denmark. 1932-63


Number of Estimated
 Estimated
 Total Number of Number of hospitalize number of number of Pregnancies Deliveries
 Year number of deliveries 1 legal spontaneous nOn­
 pregnancies abortions and illegal hospitalized ectopic per 1,000 per 1,000


abortions 3 shortions3,4 pregnancies population population


1962--- 77,785 3,997 16.7 

1961--- 98,985 76,459 4,124 10,77E 7,189 43! 21.4 16.6 

1960--- 98,611 76,118 3,918 10,885 7,257 43? 21.5 16.6 

1959--- 74,071 3,589 16.3 

1958--- 74,885 3,897 16.6 

1.957 75,458 4,023 16.8 

1956--- 77,128 4,477 17.3 

1955--- 77,197 5,434 17.4 

1.954 76,848 5,140 17.5 

1953--- 78,696 4,795 18.0 

1952--- 77,251 5,031 17.8 

1951--- .-,. 76,958 4,743 17.9 

1950--- 104,892 79,965 4,101 12,219 8,146 461 24.6 18.7 

1949--- 105,215 80,161 3,425 12,700 8,467 462 24.9 18.9 

1948--- 109,918 85,214 2,543 13,007 9,671 483 26.3 20.3 

1947--- 115,093 91,951 2,240 12,238 8,159 505 27.8 22.2 

1946--- 117,439 96,513 1,950 11,076 7,384 516 28.6 23.5 

1945 115,732 95,475 1,577 10,903 7,269 508 28.6 23.6 

1944--- 107,969 91,106 1,286 9,062 6,041 474 27..0 22.8 

1943--- 99,731 84,826 977 8,094 5,396 438 25.3 21.5 

1942--- 92,733 80,072 824 6,800 4,530 407 23.8 20.5 

1941--- 82,799 71,939 519 5,986 3,991 364 21.5 18.6 

1940--- 79,940 70,825 522 4,945 3,297 351 20.8 18.4 

1939--- 68,716 484 18.1 

1938--- 69,219 483 18.3 

1937--- 68,129 486 18.2 

1936--- 67,170 510 18.1 

1935--- 65,818 423 17.9 

1934--- -.. 65,772 327 18.0 

1933--- 63,480 326 17.6 

1932--- 65,128 370 18.2 

IStatistisk Department: Befolkningens bevaegelser 1931-62. Copenhagen, 1931-64.


2Sundhedestyrelsen: Medicinalberetning for Kongeriget Denmark 1931-62. Copenhagen, 1933-64.


‘{H.Hoffmeyer and M. Ng$rgaard,Konceptionshyppighed og avangerekab sforlti~,Ugeskr. L,aeg. 126:355-371, 1964.


4H0ffieyer and Ngrgaardl ~ estimte in 1964 was 30-50 percent nonhOsPitalized abortions; however, here 40 per-


cent is used.


hT. Kae~ E~tra~teringrevidi tet p~ gmndlag af et I@benhamsk meteriale, Nerd. lied. 41:406-411, 1949. Kaern


estimates 0.~4 percent ectopic pregnancies per total number of conceptions.


59

APPENDIX I


DEFINITIONS AND REGISTRATION


Definitions 

These definitions have been in force throughout the 

last 100 years. 

Live btytll.—A live birth is defined as an infant 

who after delivery shows evidence of life, regardless 

of the length of gestation. According to Danish practice, 

breathing is taken as evidence of life. 

Still biyth. —A stillbirth is a fetus delivered after 

the 28th week of pregnancy without evidence of life. In 

practice, the pregnancy is considered to be of this 

duration, if the infant weighs 1,000 grams or more. 

A\bortiovt. —An abortion is a fetus delivered before 

the end of the 28th week of pregnancy without evidence 

of life. 

Infant death. —An infant death is the death of a 

livebarn infant within the first year of life. 

Perinatal death. —A perinatal death is a stillbirth 

or the death of a Iiveborn infant within the first week 

of life. 

Registration 

Live bi~ths. —It is the midwife’s duty to report a 

birth to the vicar of the area in which the birth occurs 

within 1 week. Furthermore, she must inform the parents (or the unmarried mother) that they (or she) 

must report the birth to the parish registrar within 2 

days (or in some rural districts within 8 days) and 

must at that time present birth and marriage certificates, If no midwife is present at the delivery, the 

duties mentioned rest upon the physician. 

The vicar and the parish registrar must compare 

the birth reports received. Every 3 months the vicar 

delivers the reports to the Statistical Department. 

Every week the parish registrar delivers his reports 

to the national registrar of the mother’s municipal 

town. 

Stillbirths. —A stillbirth certificate is issued by 

the midwife and presented to the vicar, or in some big 

towns to the municipal burial authorities, by the parents or sometimes by the midwife. In towns and most 

rural districts there must be a death certificate, as 

well as a stillbirth certificate, issued by a physician. 

This is compulsory if no midwife has attended the delivery. The death certificate is presented to the vicar 

or the burial authorities by the parents. 

60 

Once a month the vicar or the burial authorities 

forward the stillbirth certificates and the death certificates to the health officers who go through them and, 

if necessary, consult the parents or the physician before sending the certificates to the National Health 

Service with any necessary supplementary remarks 

and corrections. 

In the National Health Service coding of causes of 

death is made on the basis of the death certificates 

under expert supervision of physicians. The certificates 

are thereafter sent to the Statistical Department for 

statistical coding and analyses. The final tabulation 

takes place both in the Statistical Department of the 

Ministry of Economics and in the National Health Service of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Deaths. —For any death, a certificate must be issued after examination of the dead. When death is 

caused by accident or violence or is in any way suspicious (generally a total of about 10 percent), the 

death certificate must be issued by the health officer 

connected with t,he police. In towns the death certificates must always be issued by a physician, but in 

rural districts if the distanc~ between the residences 

of the dead person and the nearest physician exceeds 2 

kilometers (about 1-1 /4 miles), they may be issued by 

a lay coroner. While the certificates from lay coroners 

in 1931-35 were 10.6 percent of all death certificates, 

in the rural districts the corresponding percentage was 

0.1 in 1961. 

The death certificates are presented to the vicar 

or the burial authorities by the parents and are then 

handled in the same way as the death certificates for 

stillborn infants, The vicar or the burial authorities 

report the death to the population registry or make 

sure that the parents have reported it. 

Registration com~leteness. —The statistics for live 

births, stillbirths, and deaths possess a very high degree of accuracy, because the system of registration 

is based on an old and well practiced tradition, The 

double registration of Iiveborn infants insures the 

registration of every birth, and the same may be said 

about stillborn infants, which are nowadays registered 

twice. The examination of the stillbirth certificates and 

the death certificates undertaken by the health officers 

and the National Health Service makes certain that the 

correct cause of death is established. In case of doubt 

the matter is discussed with the person who has issued 

the certificate. A special form is used for death certificates for the age group under 1 year, since information on legitimacy and parity is requested, 
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APPENDIX Il. FERTILITY 

This appendix describes the distribution of births 

by different demographic characteristics which influence 

pcritmtol and infant mortality rates, especially with 

view to changes in the composition of births from 1931 

through 1%2, 

The relationship between male and female births 

hus rem~ined constant during this period. Approximately 

51 percent of the births are males and 49 percent, femulcw. 

The proportion of illegitimate births showed a 

slight decrease up to 1951-53 (10,5 in 1931-33 to 6.9 

pcrccnt), Since then there has been an increase to 8.1 

percent, 

From 1931-33 to 1960-62 a decrease from 1.5 to 

1.2 percent occurred in the proportion of multiple 

births (live and still). The slight decrease in multiple 

births was caused by the smaller proportion of births 

among mothers of older ages. Multiple births are more 

frcqut’nt in the older ages until 40 years of age. h 

1W I -4S there were about 2.2 multiple births for every 

1,000 parturients 35-39 years old, while there were 

only 0.7 for parturients 15-19 years and 1.7 for parturhmts 40 years and older. In 1951-55 the rate had decreuscd to 1,9 for mothers 35-39 years and to 1.5 for 

mothers 40 years and older. The rate remained the 

surne for the younger mothers. 

In general, there has been a smaller proportion of 

births to mothers in the higher ages. In 1931-33 women 

of 30 years and older delivered 39.3 percent of all 

births against only 26.5 percent in 1960-62. As the 

higher birth orders occur among older women, a concentration of births in the lower ages must mean a 

In 1960-62, 82.7 percent of all births were first, 

second, or third births, while in 1931-33 only 70.9 

percent wereof these orders (table I). 

These changes in the distribution of births by total-birth order and age ofmotherarenotdue to changed 

composition of women by 

creased frequency of births 

gether with a decreasing 

bigher ages (table II). The 

the lower ages, especially 

old, is due to the fact that 

age, but to a strongly inamong the lower ages, tofrequency ot births in the 

prominent increase among 

among mothers 20-24 years 

more of these mothers are 

married nowadays. In the census of 1930, 28.3 percent 

of all women between 20-24 years were married, while 

the corresponding figure for the census of 1960 was 

53.2 percent. 

The distribution of birtbs by calendar month has 

remained practically unchanged throughout the last 30 

years. The maximum has been in March and the minimum in November. 

Data from the 1940 census are shown in table III 

to illustrate fertility in the different occupational groups. 

The table covers the fertility trend from 1926-40, 

since the rates are based on marriages of 12 to 15 

years in duration. The table also shows rates for 

three areas: the Capital, provincial towns, and rural 

districts. The first two areas are completely urban, 

while in 1960 only 35 percent of the population in the 

rural districts lived in urban conditions, i.e., suburban or urban areas of 1.000 inhabitants or more. 

Table II. Deli. veri,es per 1,000 females by age 

corresponding concentration in lower birth orders. of mother: Denmark, selected years, 1931-62 

Table 1, Percentage di.stributi,on of tota 1 births 

by total-birth order: Denmark, selected years, Age of mother 1960- 1951- 1941- 1931-

1931-62 1962 1953 1943 1933 

I 

ToCal.-birth order 1960-

1962 

1951-

1953 , 

1941-

1943 1 

1931-

1933 

15-19 years 

20-24 years 

. 42.1 

171.3 

40.2 

156.7 

28.0 

130.4 

22.5 

101.3 

Total 100 � () 25-29 yeare 156.8 151.1 147.5 122.9 

30-34 years 87.2 94.7 107.0 96.1 

:irr::------------- 34.8 33.0 36.9 33.3 

29,8 29.4 27.2 23.1 35-39 years 38.3 50.3 61.1 63.2 

ThLrd 18.1 17.9 15.4 14.5 

Fourth 8.9 40-44 years--------, 11.2 16.3 20.5 25.4 

Fifeh ::; ::+ ::; 

Sixth and over ::$ 5.5 7.5 13.7 45 years and over-- 0.7 1.1 1.6 2.4 

61 
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Table III. Rat’Loof childrento merriagea of


12-15 years of duration,by area of residence


and occuDati.on
of head of household:Denmark,


1926-40 “


:hildren


Area and occupation per 100


narriages


A comparisonamong occupational
 groupsineach


ofthethreeareasshowsevident differences,
 although


theyare limitedin theCapitaland provincial
 towm].


As faras allthreeareasareconcerned,
Iaborershad


thehighest fertility andsalaried employees,
thelowes;.


Fertility increases from themosturbanized
 area(Capj­


tal)to theleasturbanized areas(rural districts)
 .’J%e


higherfertility among certain occupations
 andincer­


tainareasmeans more birthsofhigherbirthorderl;.


Thus, perinatal and infantmortality
are influenced,


sincemortalityvariesaccordingto orderof birth.


Capita1


Self-etuployed


Salaried employees-inmanufacturing,


construction,and commerce
 Public servants


Laborers


Provincialtowns


Self-employed


Salariedemployeesin manufacturing,


construction,and commerce
 Public servants


Laborers


Rural districts


Self-employedin agriculture


Self-employed(excluding


agriculture)-----------------------


Salariedemployeesin manufacturing,


construction,and commerce
 Public servants


Laborers (excludingagriculture)----


Laborers in agriculture


131


125


129


143


173


159


164


194


249


206


180


205


240


274


—000 

62

------------------------

------------------------

APPENDIX Ill 

DEMOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF DENMARK 

Area and Climate 

Ilmmark, excluding the Faroe Islands and Greenl:md, covurs an area of about 43,000 square kilometers 

(lh,h[ll square miles). The 1960 census showed a population of 4,585,000 persons, or a density of about 107 

inhabitants per square kilometer (276 per square mile). 

About 73 percent of the total area is agricultural, 

uncl :lbout 10 percent is forests and plantations. The 

climate is temperate coast climate with average temperatures from -0.1 to 16.0 degrees centigrade (31.8-

60,S degrees Fahrenheit) in the coldest and warmest 

months, Le., February and July. 

Growth of Population 

The census of 1930 was on a de facto basis (population actually present) while the following were on the 

de jwe principle (resident population). The percentages 

of grow;h per ‘year vary between 0.6 and 1.1: 

ILLs, 

CWSWS ~Population gYoulth 

@evcent) 

l~ao ------------------------ 3,551,000 

0.8 %----------------------- 3,696,000 

0.8 lo~o ------------------------ 3,844,000 

1.1 l~qs 4,045,000 

1.0 1050------------------------ 4,281,000 

0.8 lg55------------------------ 4,448,000 

0.6 lQ~O 4,585,000 

In figure Ithefour components ofpopulation growth 

are shown, that is, live births, deaths, immigrants, and 

cmigr:mts. Throughout the period from 1930-62netmigrations (immigration minus emigration) have been 

of minor importance so that the growth of population is 

determined mainly by thedifference between the incidence of births and deaths. As the incidence of death 

varies within rather narrow limits, the considerable 

popukition growth from 1940-50 wasduemainly to the 

25r—————l 

20 

i m== Live births


& — Deaths
 0


a .. . . . . . . . . . l~~ig~~”ts


-.—.= E~lgrants o


0 

0 

_. 1 

YEAR 

Figure 1. Live birth, death, Immigrant, and emi9rant 

rates: Denmark, 1931-60. 

63 
-------------

---------

-----------

------

------------------------

---------------------------

---------------------------

-------

rise in the birth rate during the War and afterwards, 

when the birth rate during one single year (1945) 

reached 23.5 per 1,000 population (table IV). 

Sex, Age, and Marital Status 

During every year from 1930 to 1960 there has 

been an excess of females in the Danish population. In 

1930 the excess amounted to 78,000 or 1,045 females 

per 1,000 males, while in 1960 the excess was only 

38,800 or 1,017 females per 1,000 males. The decrease 

in the excess of females was due in part to the change 

from the traditional net emigration to a net immigration during the 1930’s (the majority migrating were 

males), and in par: to the large birth cohorts during 

the 1940’s (107 Iiveborn males per 100 liveborn females). 

The distribution of the population by age in 1930 

was such that about 27 percent were under 15 years, 

Table IV. Live birth, death, immigrant, and 

emigrant rates: Denmark, 1931-62 

Year 

1962 --------------- 1961 --------------- 1960---------------

1959---------------

1958---------------

1957---------------

1956---------------

1955---------------

1954---------------

1953---------------

L9b2---------------

1951---------------

L950---------------

1949---------------

1948---------------

1947---------------

1946---------------

1945---------------

1944---------------

1943---------------

1942---------------

1941---------------

1940---------------

1939---------------

1938---------------

1937---------------

1936---------------

1935---------------

1934---------------

1933---------------

1932---------------

1931---------------

Rate ] r 1,000 population 

16.7 

16.6 

9.7 

9.4 n 5.2 

5.4 

16.6 9.5 5.8 5.2 

16.3 9.3 5.4 5.0 

16.5 9.2 5.2 5.6 

16.8 

17.2 ::; ::; E 

17.3 8.7 4.2 

17.3 9.1 4.1 ::! 

17.9 9.0 4.4 4.2 

17.8 

17.8 ;:: N 2:; 

18.7 5.3 6.0 

18.9 ::$ 6.1 

20.3 8.6 H 7.9 

22.1 6.9 

23.4 1::; 2:; 6.3 

23.5 10.5 1,3 

22.7 

2L.4 

1;.: . ;:; 

0.9 

0.4 

008 

20.4 ;.; 

18.5 1::: ;:: . 

18.3 10.4 2.3 3.7 

1.7.8 10.1 3.6 3.0 

1801 10.3 2.8 

18.0 10.8 2.7 ::; 

17.8 11.0 2.9 . 

17.7 11.1 3.2 2.4 

17.8 10.4 3.4 2.2 

17.3 10.6 2.1 

1800 11.0 ::2 2.3 

18.0 11.4 4.6 2.7 

while about 7 percent were 65 years or more. Thil[ 

age structure should beregardedagainstthe backgroun f of the decrease in the birth rate which started in 

Denmark in the end of the last century andwhich declined from about 31 (1890) to about 19 (1930)pe~ 

1,000 population. This development hasinvolved a still 

decreasing proportion in the youngest group andatth, 

same time an increasing proportionof elderly persont. 

AS is well known, the decrease of the death rate ha; 

had little influence’on theagedistribution of thepopu. 

lation. 

As is shown below this trend wasnot concludedili 

1930, because the proportion of children continued,] 

decrease and that of elderly persons toincreasedurirqc 

the period 1930-60. Only thelarge birth cohorts in thl’ 

1940’s causeda temporary change in thedevelopment o’ 

the group under 15 years: 

1930 1940 1Y5Q 1.%3) 

AgQ 

Percentage distribldimt 

All ages 100.0 100.0 100.0 100JI 

Under 15years 27,5 24,0 26,4 25,1 

15-64 years 65.2 68.2 64.5 64.} 

65 years And over 7.3 7.8 9.1 10,; 

In 1930, 40.1 and38.5percent ofmalesandfema1cs, 

respectively, were married. The proportion ofmarric 

has increased evenly and reached 47.5 and 46.7 percent in 1960. This is due mainly to the increasing frequency of marriage within the individual age groups 

Economic Activity and Place of Residence 

While 28 percent of the Danish population was attached to agriculture in 1940, there have been such 

great changes in the economic structure of society 

during the following 20 years that the proportion ifl 

agriculture decreased to about 19 in 1960. This decrease corresponds withan increase in the economi: 

activities in the towns, where the civil andprofessioml 

services especially show a large relative increust: 

1940 I!l[i) 

Economic activity 

Pesccilt 

Manufacturing 33.4 36. ; 

Commerce 12,6 1.3,; 

Transport 6.5 7.? 

Administrations and professions 7.0 10;’ 

At the same time, there has been a change intht 

distribution of the population by occupational statuti, 

The proportion of self-employed among heads of households decreased from about 33 to about 26 percent, 

64 

i 
-----------------------

----------------------------

-------------------------

while the group “salaried employees” increased from Standard of Living , 

about 15 to 20 percent, 

The immense growth of economic activity in towns Measured in fixed prices the net national income 

caused increasing urbanization. In 1930 ~~out 58 per- per capita in Denmark has risen 63 percent from 1938 

cent of the population lived in towns of 250.{nhabitants to 1963. A conversion of the net national income per 

or more, but in 1960 the percentage had increased to capita into dollars by use of the offical rate of exchange 

73. At the same time, an increased concentration of the would not give an acceptable basis for comparing the 

population in bigger towns has taken place. While towns standard of living in the United States and Denmark, for 

with 10,OC)Oinhabitants or more in 1930 held about 41 the rate of exchange does not express the relation bepercent of the population, the corresponding figure was tween the buying power for Danish kroner and American 

50 in 1%0, dollars. A more realistic conversion according to 

buying power has been tried on the basis of calculaSize of Households and Distribution of Dwellings tions made in 1955 by the Organization for Economic 

by Facilities Cooperation and Development which estimates $1=5.50 

Danish kroners. If this rate of exchange is used, the 

The average number of persons per household in net national income per capita in 1963 was $1,316. 

19[)0 was 2.96 against3.66 in 1930. The rather considertible decrease is due partly to changes in the agricultural structure which have caused a large reduction in Probability of Death 

the number of farm hands, and partly to changes in the


wiIy of life so that different family generations do not The probability of death for males and females for


live together as they did earlier. Lastly, there has been selected ages is indicated in table V for each 5 years


a decrease in the number of children in each family. from 1931 through 1960 and for 1961-62. For males, as


The standard of dwellings in 1960, based on a ran- well as for females, there was a large decrease in the 

dom sample of 10 percent of all dwellings in Denmark, probability of death until 1951-55. The decrease was 

is indicated by the following distribution of facilities: greatest for the ages under 15 years and was as much 

as 73 percent for males and females under 1 year in 

PeYcent of age. The decrease diminished for higher ages, so that Facility dwellings for the highest ages it was only about 15 percent. FurElectricity and/or gas----------------- 95.9 thermore, it is a characteristic feature that the deCentral heating 47.0 crease in probability of death was greatest for females. 

EMhroom 49.2 The overall decrease corresponds with the increase in 

Water closet 85.4 the average expected lifetime for newborn males (from 

Table V. Life table mortality rates at specified ages by sex: Denmark, 1931-62 

[Number of d.atbs during specified year of age per 100,000 persons alive at beginning of year of age] 

1961-62 1951-55 1946-50. 1941-45 ~ 1936-40 1931-35
 Age


in 

yeara Male Male Male ~em le Male ?emele Male ?ema le I Male ?em le Male ‘emale 

o.... 2,439 1,867 2,687 1,999 3,170 2,355 4,X: 3,470 5,525 4,175 7,133: 5,405 8,147 6,308 

153 137 168 155 243 195 319 3 529
 458 589 901 718

i:::: 1:;	 69 111 68 150 108 201 174 252 211 286 235 374 300


65 56 110 77 127 112 183 160 199 166 237 201


:=:	 57 42 IX 47 1:: 82 125 110 173 145 164 146


64 32 62 39 & z 57 113 90 136 98 134 132


ii= 42 22 43 28 42 59 39 88 66 70 113 

15---- 24 :: 73 113 84 l:: 147 J: 

20---- 1?; 1?: ;: l;; 54 158 2! 209 156 206 1% 256 224 

25---- # 104 128 170 127 225 190 224 194 266 278 

30---- l?; 116 145 1:: 187 162 223 214 228 249 268 305 

134 115 145 1;2 157 141 211 208 258 265 281 307 324 356 

%::: 233 181 218 184 221 210 291 272 335 321 389 353 401 456 

45---- 350 268 341 270 364 318 455 386 462 461 525 535 584 574 

50---- 608 410 599 437 (33: 475 664 575 740 ;;: 754 729 832 782 

55---- 1,025 639 1,004 686 736 1,053 828 1,087 1>191 993 1,244 1,182 

60---- 1,701 996 1,582 1,065 1,536 1,176 1,626 1,342 1,710 1,489 1,885 1,622 1,866 1,759


65w--- 2,687 1,676 2,576 1,741 2,473 1,903 2,493 2,213 2,633 2,468 2,886 2,720 3,097 2,770


70---- 4,087 2,947 4,073 3,110 3,951 3,399 4,053 3,768 4,375 4,110 4,901 4,379 4,825 $:;;


6,437 5,304 6,514 5,580 6,484 5>963 6,668 6,319 7,044 6,740 7,729 7,489 7,837


K::: 10,507 9,307 10,331 9,495 10,420 9,969 11,174 10,487 Ll,788 11,338 12,793 12,162 L2,181 .1;338


,940 L5,170 16,690 L5,599 16,542 15>911 17,074 16,083 L8,143 17,925 L9,213 18,407 L8,955 .7>925
 85---- ,t6


65 
62.0 to 69.8 years) and females (from 63.8 to 72.6). 

The decrease during 1931-51 was first of all due to a 

reduction in mortality from tuberculosis and other infective diseases, and diseases of the respiratory and 

digestive systems. 

After 1951 the picture is, however, essentially 

different. As far as males are concerned, the decrease 

in probability of death continued for the youngest and 

some of the middle ages; however there was stagnation or an increase for ages 40 years and over. For 

females the decrease continued for all ages. The increase in average expected lifetime during this period 

(1951-62), therefore, is slight fornewborn males (0.6 

years) compared with that for females (1. 8 years). The 

increase improbability of death formalesover40 yea s 

old was primarily caused by increasing occurrencelof I 

heart diseases and cancer of the lung. 

The greater decrease in the probability of death 

for females meant increa~ed excess deaths amolg 

[males. For 1961-62 the excess increases up to ag:s 

.20-30 years, decreases unti140 yearsof age,increases 

again until about 60 years, and finally decreases. Tae 

great excess in the probability of deaths for males in 

the younger ages is especially due to greater risk of 

accidents; whereas the excess for males between ages 

40 and60isassociatedwith the fact that heart diseaszs 

are more frequent among males than among females. 
APPENDIX IV 

ORGANIZATION OF THE DANISH HEALTH SYSTEM 

The Danish health system is based on the general 

practitioner. In 1931, there were l,674generalpractitioners, 792doctors at hospitals, and about lOOhealth 

officers, A total of 2,536 doctors wereregistered, about 

1 per 1,406 inhabitants. In the 164hospitals in Denmark 

about 7,000 nurses were employed. Patients had a total of C~,044,726 sick days, an average of 33 sick days 

per patient. 

In 1962 Denmark had a total of 5,948 doctors, or 

about 1 per 774 inhabitants. Of these 2,441 were general 

ptwctitioners, 3,217 were hospital doctors, and the rest 

(290) were health officers and scientists. In the 144 

hospitals in Denmark 17,900 nurses were employed. 

The number of sick days amounted to 8,845,915, about 

lb days per patient. 

Medical care is administered largely through a 

network of sick-benefit clubs, to which 85 percent of 

the population belongs. These clubs, which came into 

being just after the middle of the last century, have 

had state support since 1892, making the membership 

fees very reasonable. Each club generally has a contract with a group of physicians, and each member of 

such a club may choose a physician for a year at a 

time, The physician is required to provide medical 

service on demand. All medical care connected with 

hospitalization, and at least part of the fee for private 

specialist consultations and medicine expenses are 

covered by the club membership. Chronically sick 

persons or other needy ones are further insured through 

the aid of the local institutions supported by the municipality. 

Persons with incomes alxwe a certain level are required to pay higher than average fees for membership 

or may provide themselves with private insurance. 

Everyone is helped by the very low hospital fees, which, 

because of the large state and municipal support given 

all hospitals, amount to less than 10 percent of the actual cost. Moreover, some are helped by the state reduction in prices of medicine. 

In 1962 Denmark was divided into 63 health districts (compared with 70 in 1931), and these districts 

were grouped into 22 state districts. The duties of the 

health officers are supervisory and administrative. 

They serve as consultants to the municipalities, carry 

out the forensic affairs of the district, and superintend 

the medical personnel and district institutions in which 

children or adults are nursed, taught, or are permanently 

living. 

The central administrative organ for public health 

is the National Health Service of Denmark, which, like 

the local health officers, is in principle supervisory 

and consultative only, with responsibility for the 

numerous county organs through which health services 

are administered. The National Health Service of Denmark is headed by a physician and includes among 

others a department of medical statistics directed by a 

trained statistician. 

67 
OUTLINE OF REPORT SERIES FOR VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS 

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000 

Seyaes 1.	 PYograms and collection pvoceduYes.— Reports which describe the general programs of the National 

Center for Health Statistics and its offices and divisions, data collection methods used, definitions, 

and other material necessary for understanding the data. 

SeTies 2.	 Data evaluation and methods veseavch. — Studies of new statistical methodology including: experimental tests of new survey methods, studies of vital statistics collection methods, new analytical 

techniques, objective evaluations of reliability of collected data, contributions to statistical theory. 

SeVies 3.	 Analytical studies. —Reports presenting analytical or interpretive studies based on vital and health 

statistics, carrying the analysis further than the expository types of reports in the other series. 

SeYies 4.	 Documents and committee veports. — Final reports of major committees concerned with vital and 

health statistics, and documents such as recommended model vital registration laws and revised birth 

and death certificates. 

Seyies 10.	 Data from the Health Intevview Suvvey. —Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use of 

hospital, medical, dental, and other services, and other health-related topics, based on data collected 

in a continuing national household interview survey. 

Series 11.	 Data from the Health Examination SuYvey. —Data from direct examination, testing, and measurement of national samples of the population provide the basis for two types of reports: (1) estimates 

of the medically defined prevalence of specific diseases in the United States and the distributions of 

the population with respect to physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics; and (2) 

analysis of relationships among the various measurements without reference to an explicit finite 

universe of persons. 

SeYies 12. Data f?’om the Institutional Population Su?’veys.— Statistics relating to the health characteristics of 

persons in institutions, and on medical, nursing, and personal care received, based on national 

samples of establishments providing these services and samples of the residents or patients. 

SeYies 13.	 Data from the Hospital DischaYge Su?’vey. —Statistics relating to discharged patients in short-stay 

hospitals, based on a sample of patient records in a national sample of hospitals. 

SeYies 20.	 Data on moytality. —Various statistics on mortality other than as included in annual or monthly 

reports— special analyses by cause of death, age, and other demographic variables, also geographic 

and time series analyses. 

Series 21.	 Data on natality, ma~riage, and divovce. —Various statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce other 

than as included in annual or monthly reports — special analyses by demographic variables, also 

geographic and time series analyses, studies of fertility. 

SeYies 22. Data fyom the National Natality and MoYtality Suvveys, —Statistics on characteristics of births and 

deaths not available from the vital records, based on sample surveys stemming from these records, 

including such topics as mortality by socioeconomic class, medical experience in the last year of 

life, characteristics of pregnancy, etc. 

For a list of titles of reports published in these series, write to: Office of Information 

National Center for Health Statistics 

U.S. Public Health Service 

Washington, D.C. 20201