Open AccessThe population transition and seasonal fluctuations in infant mortality in Finland, Estonia and Russia
Author(s) -
Oiva Turpeinen
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
finnish yearbook of population research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1796-6191
pISSN - 1796-6183
DOI - 10.23979/fypr.44944
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , infant mortality , demography , infant feeding , breast feeding , population , geography , breast milk , socioeconomics , environmental health , pediatrics , medicine , biology , sociology , biochemistry
ln explaining differences in infant mortality and its development in Finland. Russia and Estonia in regard to region, religious group and month of the year in the period 1750 - 1900, one can note the significance of breastfeeding. Wherever breastfeeding was common, infant mortality was low and there was no peak in infant mortality during the summer months. The basic reason for this was that breastfeeding was much more hygienic than other forms of feeding and, in addition. breast milk was a versatile source of nutrition. Economic reasons were of only secondary importance compared to thes eforms of feeding.