A four-week observation of maternity care in Finland.

The increasing infant mortality rate in the United States is of concern to all people, especially those involved in the care of mothers and infants. Of the 20 industrialized countries in the world, Finland, Sweden, and Japan rank first in lowest infant mortality rates. A four-week observational experience at a maternity and women's hospital in Helsinki, Finland, led to the identification of two contributing factors: 1) incentive for early antepartum care and 2) public education.