Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorHokama, T.
dc.contributor.authorBinns, Colin
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T10:28:13Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T10:28:13Z
dc.date.created2012-10-29T20:00:26Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.identifier.citationHokama, Tomiko and Binns, Colin. 2012. Progress in Infant Health in Okinawa, Japan. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health. 24 (4): pp. 654-662.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3046
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/1010539512453250
dc.description.abstract

The infant mortality rate (IMR) and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) defined as the number of infant and newborn deaths per 1000 live births, respectively, are widely accepted as population indicators of the level of perinatal and postnatal health. Since the end of World War II, Japan has made substantial progress in reducing its IMR and NMR. This resulted from improving living standards and the provision of universal maternal and child health care (MCH) services. Okinawa, the island prefecture that is the furthest from mainland Japan, had the third highest IMR and the highest low-birth-weight rate (LBW) among all prefectures when its statistics were integrated into Japan in 1973. Even though the LBW rate in Okinawa has remained higher than the all-Japan average, Okinawa has shown a considerable improvement in IMR and NMR. The aim is to review the trends in IMR, NMR, and LBW in Japan and Okinawa and to discuss sociodemographic trends, economics, and the provision of health care services. The IMR and NMR in Okinawa decreased during that time from 14.8 to 2.4 and from 7.5 to 0.8, respectively. The LBW rate decreased until the mid-1980s, but since then it has increased to 11.5 (Okinawa) and 9.6 (Japan) in 2009. Okinawa’s public health and primary health care model for infants has been very successful and may be applicable to child health in island nations of the Asia-Pacific region.

dc.publisherSage Science Press
dc.titleProgress in Infant Health in Okinawa, Japan
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume24
dcterms.source.startPage654
dcterms.source.endPage662
dcterms.source.issn10105395
dcterms.source.titleAsia Pacific Journal of Public Health
curtin.department
curtin.accessStatusFulltext not available


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record