Home > Midwifery in Japan > Maternal and Child Health
Maternal and Child Health Statistics
| Year | Population | Live Births | Birth Rate ( per1,000 populations ) | Total Fertility Rate | Maternal Mortality Rate ( per 100,000 live births ) | Perinatal Mortality Rate( *1 ) | Perinatal Mortality Rate( *2 ) | Infant Mortality Rate ( per 1,000 live births ) | Stillbirth Rate ( per 1,000 births ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 83,199,637 | 2,337,497 | 28.1 | 3.65 | 176.1 |  |
46.6 | 60.1 | 84.9 |
| 1955 | 89,275,529 | 1,730,692 | 19.4 | 2.37 | 178.8 | |
43.9 | 39.8 | 95.8 |
| 1960 | 93,418,501 | 1,606,041 | 17.2 | 2.00 | 130.6 | |
41.4 | 30.7 | 100.4 |
| 1965 | 98,274,961 | 1,823,697 | 18.6 | 2.14 | 87.6 | |
30.1 | 18.5 | 81.4 |
| 1970 | 103,119,447 | 1,934,239 | 18.8 | 2.13 | 52.1 | |
21.7 | 13.1 | 65.3 |
| 1975 | 111,251,507 | 1,901,440 | 17.1 | 1.91 | 28.7 | |
16.0 | 10.0 | 50.8 |
| 1980 | 116,320,358 | 1,576,889 | 13.6 | 1.75 | 20.5 | 20.2 | 11.7 | 7.5 | 46.8 |
| 1985 | 120,265,700 | 1,431,577 | 11.9 | 1.76 | 15.8 | 15.4 | 8.0 | 5.5 | 46.0 |
| 1990 | 122,721,397 | 1,221,585 | 10.0 | 1.54 | 8.6 | 11.1 | 5.7 | 4.6 | 42.3 |
| 1995 | 125,570,000 | 1,187,064 | 9.6 | 1.42 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 32.1 |
| 2000 | 125,612,633 | 1,190,547 | 9.5 | 1.36 | 6.6 | 5.8 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 31.2 |
| 2002 | 126,008,000 | 1,158,855 | 9.2 | 1.32 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 31.1 |
- *1
- Per 1,000 live births and stillbirths after the 22nd week of pregnancy
- *2
- Sum of the number of stillbirths after the 28th week of pregnancy and the number of deaths in early infancy divided by the number of live births.per 1,000 live births
- Source
- "Vital Statistics", Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Statistics on Current Issues
Perinatal and infant mortality rates in Japan, commonly regarded as maternal and child health indicators, rank among the lowest in the world. Special attention, however, should be directed to the causes of death, including complications in pregnancy and diseases occurring during the perinatal period.
Various educational activities should be continued in order to promote maternal health and to eliminate risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome. Systematic and integrated health care during the perinatal period is also urgently needed.
[ Births ]
The number of births, as well as the total fertility rate, has been on the decrease since 1970.
This reflects a progressive transition toward a society with a low birthrate. In 2002, the total fertility rate was 1.32. This is below 2.08, the rate necessary to maintain the population. The number of births was 1.15 million.
[ Maternal Mortality ]
The maternal mortality rate in 2002 was 7.3. This rate is among the world's lowest. The major causes of maternal mortality are preventable diseases such as hypertension and/or intrapartum hemorrhage.
Japan has seen in recent years an increase in the number of "Comprehensive Maternal and Child Health Centers" for advanced maternal and child health care, along with the development of perinatal care systems.
[ Perinatal Mortality ]
While Japanese perinatal mortality refers to stillbirths after the 22nd week of pregnancy and early neonatal deaths within 1 week after birth, the number of stillbirths after the 28th week of pregnancy and early neonatal deaths per 1000 live births is often used for comparisons of Japanese data and international data. Perinatal mortality in Japan is characterized by a higher incidence of stillborn births after the 22nd week of pregnancy than by early neonatal deaths.
Some of the main neonatal conditions resulting in death include "perinatal diseases" and "congenital malformation and chromosome abnormalities", and maternal abnormalities resulting in death include "complications occurring in the placenta, umbilical cord and egg membrane" and "no history of maternal diseases".
[ Infant Mortality ]
Infant death is defined as death occurring less than one year after birth. The infant mortality rate per 1000 live births was 3.0 in 2002, the world's lowest. The leading cause of infant death is "congenital malformation and chromosome abnormality", followed by "perinatal-specific respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disorders" and "sudden infant death syndrome".
The first and second leading causes of neonatal deaths are the same as those of infant deaths.
Looking at historical causes of infant and neonate death in Japan, "trauma at birth, hypoxia, asphyxia and other respiratory disorders" ranked first in 1985. In 1946, infant and neonatal mortality from infectious diseases was high. Improvements in the child care situation, along with advances in the field of public health services, have contributed significantly to the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Recent issues related to the health and well-being of infants include: [ Births ] dioxin contamination of mother's milk, which is indispensable to the growth and development of infants, [ Maternal Mortality ] infant death from sudden infant death syndrome, origin unknown, and [ Perinatal Mortality ] a rapid increase in the incidence of child abuse by family members.
Others
[ Abortion and Contraception ]
While increasingly widespread use of contraception has reduced the overall abortion rate, the rate remains high among married women aged 30 to 44. Furthermore, the incidence of abortion among adolescents is increasing. By far the most common form of contraception practiced in Japan is the male condom, improper use of which often leads to failure. The female condom came on the market in April 2000, providing another choice for women in contraception and prevention against sexually transmitted diseases. Additionally, low-dose birth-control pills finally became available in June 1999, but usage of the pills remains limited to a small population.
[ Infertility ]
The traditional view that a married couple is supposed to have children is strongly rooted in Japan, causing difficulty for many couples troubled with infertility.
The availability of reproductive health care, information systems, and infertility counseling centers for couples seeking treatment for infertility has been gradually increasing.
[ Sexually Transmitted Diseases ] (STD)
Presently, the incidence of STDs is rapidly increasing among the younger generation. Unfamiliar diseases have emerged with changing sexual behaviors; in particular, chlamydia is on the rise among the teen-agers. It is important to disseminate accurate information concerning STDs, emphasizing their potential to cause infertility. Coordination between education in schools and in society must be strengthened, as well.