An Association between Maternal Occupations and Low Birth Weight Infants in Japan from 1995 to 2015.

Tasuku Okui,Masayuki Ochiai,Naoki Nakashima

doi:10.3390/ijerph18158040

Abstract

Differences in low birth weight rate depending on maternal socioeconomic characteristics have not yet been demonstrated using the Vital Statistics in Japan; therefore, this study aimed to investigate these differences according to maternal occupations. “Report of Vital Statistics: Occupational and Industrial Aspects” and the Vital Statistics in Japan were used every five years from 1995 to 2015. Nine types of occupations were compared. The low birth weight rate was calculated according to maternal occupations and year. Also, the standardized low birth weight ratio was obtained by dividing the number of low-birth-weight infants for each maternal occupation by an expected number of low birth weight infants. The standardized low birth weight ratio for manual workers was the highest among all occupations from 2000 to 2015, and it was significantly higher than one throughout the years. The ratio for clerical workers was also significantly higher than one from 1995 to 2010. Whereas, the ratio for farmers was significantly lower than one in most of the years. It was suggested that health guidance and prenatal care are particularly needed for manual workers, and a study investigating the differences in prenatal characteristics among maternal occupations is necessary for finding a reason for disparity.

Highlights

We showed differences in low birthweight rates and standardized low birth weight ratios depending on maternal occupations using Vital Statistics data in Japan
In contrast to manual workers, the standardized low birth weight ratio of agriculture, forestry, and fishery workers remained low throughout the analyzed periods
We revealed differences in the standardized low birthweight ratio between maternal occupations using Vital Statistics

Summary

Introduction

Low birth weight is one of the major adverse birth outcomes in perinatal health, and is an important public health indicator [1,2]. Low birth weight is caused by preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction, it is known that those infants are at higher risk of perinatal morbidity (such as cardiovascular diseases) and mortality [3,4]. It is known that the prognosis of low birth weight infants has improved in recent years [7], they are at higher risk of mortality. A study of the characteristics of mothers who give birth to low birth weight infants in Japan is needed to prevent this adverse perinatal outcome

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Conclusion