Reduced mortality - increased morbidity?

Morbidity in relation to the emerging system of sickness benefits in the period 1890-1960

BioHistory seminar presentation by Helene Kristina Castenbrandt, Mobilex Fellow at Saxo Institute, 13 November 2014, 12.00-13.15 in room 12.3.07, KUA2, Karen Blixens Vej 4, DK-2300 Copenhagen S. The seminars is open for all interested.

Helene Castenbrandt, Mobilex Fellow at the Saxo Institute

Exploring morbidity
Most of our understanding of the improved health in Europe up until the middle of the 20th-century is based on statistics on mortality. However, little is known about morbidity rates. Therefore, in order to enhance our knowledge of morbidity this presentation will explore national statistics on sick leave from Sweden during the period 1892-1960. 

Gender, regional patterns, and changes
Helene will address issues such as;

• gender differences,
• regional patterns and
• changes over time.

Before 1955, sickness benefit was organized through a variety of private health insurance societies (friendly societies/sickness funds).

Analysing statistics from sickness funds
In 1891 a new law was adopted stating that the government would partially subsidize funds that agreed to be registered and ruled by official legislations. Sickness funds were thereafter required to submit annual reports, data that authority later summarized in a yearly publication. Those statistics are analyzed in this study.