Births in Finland and Estonia from 1992 to 1996: convergent differences?

Objective To describe the differences in childbearing, in prenatal and obst etrical practices, and in peri natal health outcome in Finland and Estonia. Design Registry study using the data from the Finnish and Estonian medical birth registries for years 1992 to 1996 (in total 324,021 and 74,297 newbor ns, respectively). Results In 1992 the birth rates were 51 per 1000 women aged 15 to 49 in Fin land and 48 per 1000 in Estonia. The birth rate declined in the study perio d in both countries, but the decline was more rapid in Estonia (-26%) than in Finland (-6%). In the same period the rates of induced abortion declined in both countries (-34% and -6%, respectively), but the rate in 1996 was s till much higher in Estonia (46/1000) than in Finland (8/1000). Compared wi th Finnish mothers, Estonian mothers were younger, had fewer multiple birth s, less prenatal care and fewer interventions during pregnancy and delivery . The intervention rates increased in both countries during the study perio d, but this increase was more rapid in Estonia. The infant outcomes were po orer in Estonia, but the differences between Estonia and Finland decreased during the 1990's. Conclusions The differences in prenatal and maternal care and in induced ab ortion rates have decreased between Estonia and Finland. Changes in materna l backgrounds, improved referral system for complicated pregnancies, improv ements in prenatal care and in availability of appropriate equipment and te chnology may have caused improved maternal and infant health in Estonia, bu t this should be further investigated.