Abstract
BackgroundThe Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) is an ongoing nationwide birth cohort study launched in January 2011. In this progress report, we present data collected in the first year to summarize selected maternal and infant characteristics.MethodsIn the 15 Regional Centers located throughout Japan, the expectant mothers were recruited in early pregnancy at obstetric facilities and/or at local government offices issuing pregnancy journals. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the women during their first trimester and then again during the second or third trimester to obtain information on demographic factors, physical and mental health, lifestyle, occupation, environmental exposure, dwelling conditions, and socioeconomic status. Information was obtained from medical records in the first trimester and after delivery on medical history, including gravidity and related complications, parity, maternal anthropometry, and infant physical examinations.ResultsWe collected data on a total of 9819 expectant mothers (mean age = 31.0 years) who gave birth during 2011. There were 9635 live births. The selected infant characteristics (singleton births, gestational age at birth, sex, birth weight) in the JECS population were similar to those in national survey data on the Japanese general population.ConclusionsOur final birth data will eventually be used to evaluate the national representativeness of the JECS population. We hope the JECS will provide valuable information on the impact of the environment in which our children live on their health and development.
Highlights
The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) is an ongoing nationwide birth cohort study.[1]
The JECS study areas encompass the whole of Japan from north to south
We wanted to ensure the study population was representative of the general population, so we compared selected characteristics of the JECS population with those obtained via a national survey (Table 4).[12,13,14]
Summary
The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) is an ongoing nationwide birth cohort study.[1]. To check whether recruitment was going according to plan, we decided to summarize the data we collected so far on selected maternal and infant characteristics. To this end, we used data on approximately 10 000 women who gave birth in 2011 (the first year of recruitment). The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) is an ongoing nationwide birth cohort study launched in January 2011. In this progress report, we present data collected in the first year to summarize selected maternal and infant characteristics. We hope the JECS will provide valuable information on the impact of the environment in which our children live on their health and development
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