Health in Finland

Last updated

Life expectancy at birth in Finland Life expectancy by WBG -Finland.png
Life expectancy at birth in Finland

The major causes of deaths in Finland are cardiovascular diseases, malignant tumors, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, respiratory diseases, alcohol related diseases and accidental poisoning by alcohol. [1] In 2010, the leading causes of death among men aged 15 to 64 were alcohol related deaths, ischaemic heart disease, accident, suicides, lung cancer and cerebrovascular diseases. [2] Among women the leading causes were breast cancer, alcohol related deaths, accidents, suicides, ischemic heart disease and lung cancer. [3]

Contents

Healthcare system

Finland is well known for its high-quality health care. Public health services are available to everyone who lives in the country. Finland has both public health services and private health care services. The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health supports the welfare of people in Finland via social and health services and by ensuring income security. [4] Local government and the municipalities have the responsibility to organize good social and health care services for the residents.

Finnish health care is focusing on disease prevention and health promotion. Primary health care includes preventive health care system for different age groups: maternal health care for pregnant women, health care for newborn baby and child until school age. School health care is for school aged children and student health care is for youths and young students. In Finland, it is statutory that employers offer health care services to their workers. [5] Organized and comprehensive disease prevention and health promotion system is one of the key factors for a well-functioning system and the health outcomes are good.

Finland has high-quality specialized medical care, and it is usually provided at hospitals. The most demanding treatment is provided in hospital districts and there are five catchment areas, which are University Hospitals of Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu and Kuopio. Every health care professional is either a licensed professional or professional with a protected occupational title. This means that the individual health care professional has a license to work due to completing a training programme in the relevant legislation and decrees. [6]

Health status

A new measure of expected human capital calculated for 195 countries from 1990 to 2016 and defined for each birth cohort as the expected years lived from age 20 to 64 years and adjusted for educational attainment, learning or education quality, and functional health status was published by The Lancet in September 2018. Finland had the highest level of expected human capital: 28·4 health, education, and learning-adjusted expected years lived between age 20 and 64 years. [7]

Alcohol consumption

The total annual alcohol consumption has risen from 7.6 litres (in 1985) to 10.0 litres of 100% alcohol equivalent per capita in 2010. There has been a small reduction in alcohol consumption in the recent years. Alcohol use is highest in the Northern Finland with 10.9 litres and lowest at the Åland Islands with 5.7 litres per person. [8] Although the consumption is average to other western countries, binge drinking with especially teenagers and becoming intoxicated has remained as a characteristic of Finnish drinking habits. [9] Finland has a national alcohol programme to reduce the long-term effects of alcohol consumption. The World Health Organization has published a list of countries by alcohol consumption.

Smoking rates

The percentage of Finnish adults who smoked in 2011 Smokers-as-a-percentage-of-adult-pop.jpg
The percentage of Finnish adults who smoked in 2011

Smoking among adults has shown a marked decline over the past thirty years in most OECD countries. Much of this decline also in Finland can be attributed to policies aimed at reducing tobacco consumption through public awareness campaigns, advertising bans and increased taxation. Smoking in Finland has reduced, and now the smoking rates among adults in Finland in 2009 stood at 18.6%, lower than the OECD average of 22.3%. [10]

Drug usage

Drug use is not a major public health problem in Finland. The most commonly used drug is cannabis. According to a study from 2008, the percentage of the population aged 15 to 69 who had at some point in their lives tried cannabis was 13%; 3% of the population had used cannabis within the previous 12 months. [11]

Obesity

Overweight and obesity are common in Finland. Half of the adults are overweight, and every fifth adult is obese. The weight in men has increased since the 1970s, in women since the 1980s. Among the Nordic countries, Finland ranks the highest in a percentage of adults who are overweight. In comparison to other European countries, Finland is slightly above the average but overweight is still more common in South Europe and Great Britain. Overweight among children and adolescents has also become widespread. The number of overweight 12- to 18-year-olds has nearly tripled in the past four decades. 10% of boys and 15% of girls in preschool were overweight in a follow-up from 2007 to 2009. [12]

Communicable diseases

HIV/AIDS is not a major public health concern in Finland. The prevalence among adult population on 2009 was 0.1%. [13] HIV/AIDS is much more common in other European countries than in Finland, and the countries very near to Finland have much higher prevalence rates, due to increased travel HIV/AIDS rates in Finland may rise. It had the lowest rate of death from communicable diseases in Europe (9 per 100,000) in 2015. [14]

Noncommunicable diseases

The most significant public health problems are currently circulatory diseases, cancer, musculoskeletal diseases and mental health problems. Emerging problems are obesity, chronic lung diseases and type 2 diabetes. [15] 300,000 Finns are diagnosed with diabetes. Approximately 200,000 suffer from type 2 diabetes unknowingly and many more have prediabetes. The number of people with diabetes are estimated to double in 10 years.[ when? ] Most of the incidences[ spelling? ] could be prevented with healthy life styles, i.e. sufficient level of physical activity, obtaining normal weight and eating healthy. [16]

Proportional mortality (% of total deaths, all ages, both sexes) Proportional mortality.jpg
Proportional mortality (% of total deaths, all ages, both sexes)

Major causes of deaths in Finland are cardiovascular diseases, malignant tumours, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, respiratory diseases, alcohol related diseases and accidental poisoning by alcohol. [17] In 2010, the leading causes of death among men aged 15 to 64 were alcohol related deaths, ischaemic heart disease, accident, suicides, lung cancer and cerebrovascular diseases. [2] Among women the leading causes were breast cancer, alcohol related deaths, accidents, suicides, ischaemic heart disease and lung cancer. [3]

Mental health

Suicide mortality in Finland has generally been one of the highest in Europe, but it has reduced to 18 per 100,000 population in 2005. One reason for this may be the large national suicide prevention project which was carried out between 1986 and 1996. [15] The World Health Organization has compiled a list of countries by suicide rate. There is a high level of education of mental health workers in Finland and several effective mental health programs have been conducted within at-risk groups. [18]

Sustainable Development Goal 3

Maternal mortality

One of the Sustainable development goal 3 (SDG3) targets is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births, by 2030.

Finland is one of the countries that achieved the lowest maternal mortality ratio. After 2010, only three mothers die annually for every 100,000 births. [19]

Child and infant mortality

The proposed SDG target for aims to end, by 2030, preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.

In Finland, the mortality of under 5 years of age was 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990, and 2.3 in 2021, and under 1 year of age it was 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 and 1.8 in 2021. [20]

Child mortality in Finland 1990–2021
19902021
Under-56.82.3
Under-15.71.8

Life expectancy at birth was 81,5 in Finland in 2021. Among males the life expectancy was 79 and among females 84,1. [21]

Due to the high life expectancy at birth and low maternal and under-5 child mortality rates, it is fair to say that the health care system is effective in Finland.

Vaccination program in Finland

In Finland, there is a national vaccination program, which is very comprehensive. Child health clinics, school health care and local health centers offer vaccinations against 12 different diseases for every child, free of charge. HPV vaccines were given first for girls, but from 2020 HPV vaccines are also offered for boys. For adults, the vaccination program recommends giving booster doses of tetanus and diphtheria on a set schedule, and other vaccines are boosted if it is necessary. [22] Free influenza vaccines are offered every year for the vulnerable groups and other risk groups. [23] In 2009, the rotavirus vaccination was introduced and added to the national vaccination program. Before that rotaviruses caused many outbreaks of diarrhea every year. Over 11,000 children under 5-year old required healthcare services such as hospitalisations and outpatient visits, during the biggest outbreaks. [24]

Vaccination program by age for children and adults
AgeProtection againtsVaccine
2 monthsRotavirus diarrheaRotavirus
3 monthsPneumonia, ear infections, meningitis and blood poisoningPneumococcal Conjugate (PVC)
3 monthsRotavirus diarrheaRotavirus
3 monthsTetanus, whooping cough, polio, diphtheria and Hib diseases (meningitis, laryngitis and blood poisoning)5-in-1 vaccine

DTaP-IPV-Hib

5 monthsPneumonia, blood poisoning, ear infections, meningitisPneumococcal Conjugate (PCV)
5 monthsRotavirus diarrheaRotavirus
5 monthsTetanus, diphtheria, polio, whooping cough and Hib diseases (meningitis, laryngitis and blood poisoning)5-in-1 vaccine

DTaP-IPV-Hib

12 monthsPneumonia, meningitis, ear infections and blood poisoningPneumococcal Conjugate (PCV)
12 monthsTetanus, diphtheria, polio, whooping cough and Hib diseases (meningitis, laryngitis and blood poisoning)5-in-1 vaccine

DTaP-IPV-Hib

12-18 monthsMeasles, rubella and mumpsMMR

(recommended to be given at 12 moths of age)

6 months - 6 yearsInfluenza (annually)Influenza
1,5 - 11 yearsVaricella (Chicken pox)Varicella

(only for the children who have not had chicken box before)

4 yearsTetanus, whooping cough, polio and diphtheria4-in-1 vaccine

DTaP-IPV

6 yearsMeasles, rubella, mumps and chicken poxMMRV
10-12 yearsPapillomavirus caused cancers (cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, external genitalia cancer, and cancers in anus, penis, head and neck area)HPV
14-15 yearsTetanus, Diphtheria and whooping coughdtap (booster)
25 yearsTetanus, Diphtheria and whooping coughdtap (booster)
45 yearsTetanus and diphtheriadT (booster)
65 yearsDiphtheria and tetanus (then every 10 years)dT (booster)
65 yearsInfluenza (annually)Influenza
Countries that have mandatory childhood vaccination policies (2019) Mandatory-childhood-vaccination.png
Countries that have mandatory childhood vaccination policies (2019)

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health have the responsibility of the decision-making concerning the vaccination program. [25] THL is keeping track of the vaccination coverage within different age and risk groups in Finland, by maintaining a national vaccination register where the data is retrieved from patient record systems. The national vaccination program has been one of the biggest reason that many communicable diseases have almost fully disappeared from the country. [26] [27]

Number of one-year-olds who are not vaccinated against measles, 2021, world map Number of one-year-olds who are not vaccinated against measles, 2021, world map, OWID.png
Number of one-year-olds who are not vaccinated against measles, 2021, world map

In 2024, the vaccination coverage among young children born in 2021, is nearly 98 per cent. Around 95 per cent withing the same age group have also been vaccinated against rubella, measles and mumps. [28] The data shows that most of the children in Finland have started the 5-in-1 vaccination series. [27] [28] The accurate coverage of vaccinations might be even higher than the data shows and therefore there is still improvement to be done with the regional data collection. [28]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Influenza vaccine</span> Vaccine against influenza

Influenza vaccines, colloquially known as flu shots, are vaccines that protect against infection by influenza viruses. New versions of the vaccines are developed twice a year, as the influenza virus rapidly changes. While their effectiveness varies from year to year, most provide modest to high protection against influenza. Vaccination against influenza began in the 1930s, with large-scale availability in the United States beginning in 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in India</span> Overview of health in India

India's population in 2021 as per World Bank is 1.39 billion. Being the world's most populous country and one of its fastest-growing economies, India experiences both challenges and opportunities in context of public health. India is a hub for pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; world-class scientists, clinical trials and hospitals yet country faces daunting public health challenges like child undernutrition, high rates of neonatal and maternal mortality, growth in noncommunicable diseases, high rates of road traffic accidents and other health related issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccination schedule</span> Series of vaccinations

A vaccination schedule is a series of vaccinations, including the timing of all doses, which may be either recommended or compulsory, depending on the country of residence. A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to produce active immunity to a disease, in order to prevent or reduce the effects of infection by any natural or "wild" pathogen. Vaccines go through multiple phases of trials to ensure safety and effectiveness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varicella vaccine</span> Vaccine to prevent chickenpox

Varicella vaccine, also known as chickenpox vaccine, is a vaccine that protects against chickenpox. One dose of vaccine prevents 95% of moderate disease and 100% of severe disease. Two doses of vaccine are more effective than one. If given to those who are not immune within five days of exposure to chickenpox it prevents most cases of disease. Vaccinating a large portion of the population also protects those who are not vaccinated. It is given by injection just under the skin. Another vaccine, known as zoster vaccine, is used to prevent diseases caused by the same virus – the varicella zoster virus.

A vaccination policy is a health policy adopted in order to prevent the spread of infectious disease. These policies are generally put into place by state or local governments, but may also be set by private facilities, such as workplaces or schools. Many policies have been developed and implemented since vaccines were first made widely available.

Health in the United Kingdom refers to the overall health of the population of the United Kingdom. This includes overall trends such as life expectancy and mortality rates, mental health of the population and the suicide rate, smoking rates, alcohol consumption, prevalence of diseases within the population and obesity in the United Kingdom. Three of these – smoking rates, alcohol consumption and obesity – were above the OECD average in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Pakistan</span> Overview of health in Pakistan

Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world with population approaching 225 million. It is a developing country struggling in many domains due to which the health system has suffered a lot. As a result of that, Pakistan is ranked 122nd out of 190 countries in the World Health Organization performance report.

Australia is a high income country, and this is reflected in the good status of health of the population overall. In 2011, Australia ranked 2nd on the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Index, indicating the level of development of a country. Despite the overall good status of health, the disparities occurring in the Australian healthcare system are a problem. The poor and those living in remote areas as well as indigenous people are, in general, less healthy than others in the population, and programs have been implemented to decrease this gap. These include increased outreach to the indigenous communities and government subsidies to provide services for people in remote or rural areas.

Healthcare in Finland consists of a highly decentralized three-level publicly funded healthcare system and a much smaller private sector. Although the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has the highest decision-making authority, specific healthcare precincts are responsible for providing healthcare to their residents as of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandemrix</span> Flu vaccine

Pandemrix is an influenza vaccine for influenza pandemics, such as the 2009 flu pandemic. The vaccine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and patented in September 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Ukraine</span>

In Ukraine, the Human Rights Measurement Initiative finds that country is fulfilling 79.4% of what they should be fulfilling for the right to health, based on their level on income.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare</span>

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare is a Finnish research and development institute operating under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. THL was formed on 1 January 2009, with the merger of the National Public Health Institute of Finland (KTL) and the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health. It is the biggest expert organisation under the ministry and its most important source of consultation regarding scientific knowledge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Tanzania</span>

The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Tanzania was 790. This is compared with 449 in 2008 and 610.2 in 1990. The UN Child Mortality Report 2011 reports a decrease in under-five mortality from 155 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 76 per 1,000 live births in 2010, and in neonatal mortality from 40 per 1,000 live births to 26 per 1,000 live births. The aim of the report The State of the World's Midwifery is to highlight ways in which the Millennium Development Goals can be achieved, particularly Goal 4 – Reduce child

Zambia is a landlocked country in Sub Saharan Africa which experiences a burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. In line with WHO agenda for equity in health, it has adopted the Universal Health Coverage agenda to mitigate the challenges faced within the health sector. The Ministry of Health (MOH) provides information pertaining to Zambian health. The main focus of the Ministry of Health has been provision of uninterrupted care with emphasis on health systems strengthening and services via the primary health care approach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Latvia</span>

A new measure of expected human capital calculated for 195 countries from 1990 to 2016 and defined for each birth cohort as the expected years lived from age 20 to 64 years and adjusted for educational attainment, learning or education quality, and functional health status was published by The Lancet in September 2018. Latvia had the twenty-first highest level of expected human capital with 23 health, education, and learning-adjusted expected years lived between age 20 and 64 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Germany</span> Overview of health in Germany

Germany ranked 20th in the world in life expectancy in 2014 with 76.5 years for men and 82.1 years for women. It had a very low infant mortality rate, and it was eighth place in the number of practicing physicians, at 3.3 per 1,000 people

This article summarizes healthcare in Texas. In 2022, the United Healthcare Foundation ranked Texas as the 38th healthiest state in the United States. Obesity, excessive drinking, maternal mortality, infant mortality, vaccinations, mental health, and limited access to healthcare are among the major public health issues facing Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Norway</span> Overview of health in Norway

Health in Norway, with its early history of poverty and infectious diseases along with famines and epidemics, was poor for most of the population at least into the 1800s. The country eventually changed from a peasant society to an industrial one and established a public health system in 1860. Due to the high life expectancy at birth, the low under five mortality rate and the fertility rate in Norway, it is fair to say that the overall health status in the country is generally good.

Montenegro is a country with an area of 13,812 square kilometres and a population of 620,029, according to the 2011 census. The country is bordered by Croatia, the Adriatic Sea, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. The most common health issues faced are non-communicable diseases accounting for 95% of all deaths. This is followed by 4% of mortality due to injury, and 1% due to communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions. Other health areas of interest are alcohol consumption, which is the most prevalent disease of addiction within Montenegro and smoking. Montenegro has one of the highest tobacco usage rates across Europe. Life expectancy for men is 74 years, and life expectancy for women is 79.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Development Goal 3</span> Good Health and Well-Being

Sustainable Development Goal 3, regarding "Good Health and Well-being", is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. The official wording is: "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." The targets of SDG 3 focus on various aspects of healthy life and healthy lifestyle. Progress towards the targets is measured using twenty-one indicators.

References

  1. ↑ "Causes of Death 2009". Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Leading causes of death among men aged 15 to 64 in 2010". Official Statistics of Finland. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Leading causes of death among women aged 15 to 64 in 2010". Official Statistics of Finland. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "Welfare and health promotion". MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "Primary health care". Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "Healthcare system in Finland". EU Healthcare. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. ↑ Lim, Stephen; et, al. "Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016". Lancet. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Alkoholijuomien kulutus 2010" (PDF). Terveyden ja Hyvinvoinnin Laitos (in Finnish). 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Alcohol use in Finland". National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (Stakes). 2005. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
  10. ↑ "How Does Finland Compare" (PDF). OECD Health Data 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  11. ↑ "Drug Situation in Finland 2010". National Institute for Health and Welfare. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  12. ↑ "Lihavuuden yleisyys Suomessa". THL (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "European HIV and AIDS statistics". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  14. ↑ Ballas, Dimitris; Dorling, Danny; Hennig, Benjamin (2017). The Human Atlas of Europe. Bristol: Policy Press. p. 66. ISBN   9781447313540.
  15. 1 2 "Finland - Health system review 2008" (PDF). European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "Diabetes". THL (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Causes of Death 2009". Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  18. ↑ "The OECD: Finland must make mental health services more widely accessible". STM. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  19. ↑ Roser, Max; Ritchie, Hannah (29 February 2024). "Maternal Mortality". Our World in Data. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "Finland". Healthdata. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "Life expectancy at birth, total (years) - Finland". The World Bank. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Vaccination programme for children and adults". Finnish institute for health and welfare. 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "Influenza vaccine". Finnish institute for health and welfare. 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  24. ↑ "Rotavirus vaccine". Finnish institute for health and welfare. 17.September.2024.{{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ↑ "Vaccinations". Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 16 September 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  26. ↑ "Vaccination coverage". Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. 16 September 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  27. 1 2 "Vaccination programme for children and adults". Finnish Institute for health and welfare. 16 September 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 Virkku, Anniina; Jordman, Camilla (27 March 2024). "The vaccination coverage of young children in Finland is very good – the proportion of unvaccinated children among those born in 2021 is slightly higher than in the previous age groups". Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.