Influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on the birth weight of newborns in Fukushima Prefecture: Fukushima Health Management Survey

Yasuda, Shun; Kyozuka, Hyo; Nomura, Yasuhisa; Fujimori, Keiya; Goto, Aya; Yasumura, Seiji; Hata, Kennichi; Ohira, Tetsuya; Abe, Masafumi

doi:10.1080/14767058.2016.1245718

Cited by 14 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…15 The incidence of small-for-gestational age infants was affected by neither area in Fukushima nor trimester of pregnancy at the time of the disaster. 16 Although the delivery rate in Fukushima Prefecture as a whole decreased, the incidence of spontaneous abortion and induced abortion was unchanged compared with that before the accident. 17 The prevalence of congenital anomalies in singleton pregnancies across the 4 years was almost the same as the reported prevalence of 2% to 3% in the general Japanese population ( Table 2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnancy and Birth Survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Ishii

Goto

et al. 2017

Asia Pac J Public Health

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The Pregnancy and Birth Survey was started by Fukushima Medical University as part of the Fukushima Health Management Survey in 2011 in order to assess the physical and mental health of mothers and provide parenting support (telephone counseling) for those in need. The present study reviewed the major findings from 4 annual surveys conducted from 2011 to 2014. Overall proportions of preterm deliveries, low birth weight infants, and congenital anomalies in the first year were almost the same as those in national surveillance data. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the mothers held steady at about 25% over the 4 years. Regarding the content of parenting counseling, the proportion of mothers who voiced concerns about radiation decreased each year. This survey should be continued to provide support to mothers in Fukushima.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnancy and Birth Survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Ishii

Goto

et al. 2017

Asia Pac J Public Health

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“…Previous studies on birth outcomes following the Fukushima disaster have produced mixed results, with some studies finding no significant changes in birth outcomes in areas affected by the nuclear disaster [30,31,32], and others finding increased proportions of low birthweight and preterm births [33]; however, most studies to date have only assessed outcomes within the first year of the disaster. The overall inconsistency within results from Fukushima, and between results from Fukushima and other disasters where increases in low birthweight or preterm births have been predominant indicate that the effects of this disaster may differ from those observed in other settings [9,10,11,12,13].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is limited understanding of maternal and perinatal health following this disaster. There has been mixed evidence for immediate post-disaster changes in birth outcomes; some previous studies have found no increased proportions of low birthweight or preterm births in areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami [29], or in areas additionally affected by the nuclear disaster [30,31,32], in the first year post-disaster. However, there have also been findings of a slight increase in low birthweight neonates to women that had been 28–36 weeks pregnant at the time of the earthquake, in earthquake- and tsunami-affected areas [29], and increased proportions of low birthweight and preterm birth to women who conceived within six months post-disaster in areas affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth Outcomes after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster: A Long-Term Retrospective Study

Leppold

Nomura

Sawano

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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Changes in population birth outcomes, including increases in low birthweight or preterm births, have been documented after natural and manmade disasters. However, information is limited following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster. In this study, we assessed whether there were long-term changes in birth outcomes post-disaster, compared to pre-disaster data, and whether residential area and food purchasing patterns, as proxy measurements of evacuation and radiation-related anxiety, were associated with post-disaster birth outcomes. Maternal and perinatal data were retrospectively collected for all live singleton births at a public hospital, located 23 km from the power plant, from 2008 to 2015. Proportions of low birthweight (<2500 g at birth) and preterm births (<37 weeks gestation at birth) were compared pre- and post-disaster, and regression models were conducted to assess for associations between these outcomes and evacuation and food avoidance. A total of 1101 live singleton births were included. There were no increased proportions of low birthweight or preterm births in any year after the disaster (merged post-disaster risk ratio of low birthweight birth: 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64–1.51; and preterm birth: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.38–1.21). No significant associations between birth outcomes and residential area or food purchasing patterns were identified, after adjustment for covariates. In conclusion, no changes in birth outcomes were found in this institution-based investigation after the Fukushima disaster. Further research is needed on the pathways that may exacerbate or reduce disaster effects on maternal and perinatal health.

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“…To our knowledge, a few birth cohort studies, which covered all the area within a single prefecture, have been performed in Japan (Fujimori et al 2014;Kyozuka et al 2016;Yasuda et al 2017). The aim of this study is to provide maternal background and adverse obstetric outcome in a single prefecture using largest Japanese cohort study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) in Fukushima Prefecture: Pregnancy Outcome after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Kyozuka

Fujimori

Hosoya

et al. 2018

Tohoku J. Exp. Med.

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Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) is nationwide birth cohort study that was initiated in January 2011 to investigate the effect of environmental factors on children's health. Soon after the JECS started, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, with subsequent nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, causing catastrophic damage in Fukushima Prefecture. After the disaster, JECS was relaunched to cover all areas in Fukushima Prefecture due to public concern. In this study, we used the results of individuals enrolled in JECS, who gave birth during 2011-2014 in Fukushima Prefecture, to elucidate pregnancy outcomes in Fukushima Prefecture. The study consisted of 12,804 maternal outcomes. We thus found that the prevalence rates of preterm birth < 37 weeks, low birth weight (LBW) < 2,500 g, and LBW < 1,500 g were 5.6 %, 9.5%, and 0.8%, respectively; these rates are in accordance with the National Vital Statistics of 2014. The proportion of major anomaly among the newborns was 1.7%, the value of which was lower than other epidemiological studies. This study also found that severe obstetrics outcomes, such as hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and placental abruption, were most frequently seen among teenage mothers with low socioeconomic status. A prefecture-wide birth cohort study following a large-scale disaster may provide valuable information for obstetric care providers and residents to improve obstetric and perinatal care for pregnant women after a disaster.

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Influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on the birth weight of newborns in Fukushima Prefecture: Fukushima Health Management Survey

Abstract: We found no evidence that the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster increased the incidence of SGA in the Fukushima Prefecture.

Cited by 14 publications

References 13 publications

Pregnancy and Birth Survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Pregnancy and Birth Survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Birth Outcomes after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster: A Long-Term Retrospective Study

The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) in Fukushima Prefecture: Pregnancy Outcome after the Great East Japan Earthquake

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