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. 2005 Feb;95(2):208-16.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.034900.

Equitable child health interventions: the impact of improved water and sanitation on inequalities in child mortality in Stockholm, 1878 to 1925

Bo Burström  1 , Gloria Macassa, Lisa Oberg, Eva Bernhardt, Lars Smedman
Affiliations

Equitable child health interventions: the impact of improved water and sanitation on inequalities in child mortality in Stockholm, 1878 to 1925

Bo Burström et al. Am J Public Health. 2005 Feb.

Abstract

Today, many of the 10 million childhood deaths each year are caused by diseases of poverty--diarrhea and pneumonia, for example, which were previously major causes of childhood death in many European countries. Specific analyses of the historical decline of child mortality may shed light on the potential equity impact of interventions to reduce child mortality. In our study of the impact of improved water and sanitation in Stockholm from 1878 to 1925, we examined the decline in overall and diarrhea mortality among children, both in general and by socioeconomic group. We report a decline in overall mortality and of diarrhea mortality and a leveling out of socioeconomic differences in child mortality due to diarrheal diseases, but not of overall mortality. The contribution of general and targeted policies is discussed.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Overall mortality and diarrhea mortality among children aged younger than 2 years: Stockholm, 1878 to 1925.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Diarrhea mortality rate in relation to daily average water consumption per person and cumulative number of new water pipe connections, Stockholm, 1878 to 1925.
FIGURE 3—
FIGURE 3—
Diarrhea mortality rates among children aged younger than 2 years, by socioeconomic group (SEG), Stockholm, 1878 to 1925.…Note. Groups are numbered in order of descending socioeconomic status.
FIGURE 4—
FIGURE 4—
Overall mortality rates among children aged younger than 2 years, by socioeconomic group (SEG), Stockholm, 1878 to 1925.…Note. Groups are numbered in order of descending socioeconomic status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Reaching the underserved.
    Victora CG. Victora CG. Am J Public Health. 2005 Feb;95(2):195. doi: 10.2105/ajph.95.2.195. Am J Public Health. 2005. PMID: 15762014 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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