Core-periphery differences in children's health and use of general practitioner services in Finland from 1964 to 1987.

Finland is a modern welfare state in Northern Europe especially proud of its development of programs for children's health. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of core-periphery differences in children's health and use of health services. The study material was obtained from the national health and social security interview survey carried out in 1964, 1968, 1976 and 1987.

Children and core-periphery differences.

This study examines the differences between children's (0-15 yr of age) use of primary care services in core and peripheral municipalities in Uusimaa province in southern Finland following the implementation of the Primary Health Care Act (1972). In the ecological study (municipality-based), children's total use of primary health care services during 1973-1979 was continuously lower in peripheral municipalities than in core areas in spite of the Primary Health Care Act, the express purpose of which was to reduce regional differences. Some equalization of utilization of private practitioners occurred during this period.