A Study of Public Health and Organizational Activities in Post-War Japan: Focusing on Community Residents' Initiative

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K10317
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58010:Medical management and medical sociology-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Seiji 新潟大学, 人文社会科学系, 准教授 (60561553)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 杉田 聡 大分大学, 医学部, 教授 (00222050) ; 丸井 英二 人間総合科学大学, 人間科学部, 教授 (30111545)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 地区衛生組織活動 / 住民参加 / コミュニティ・オーガニゼーション / 衛生教育 / 占領期 / GHQ/SCAP / 厚生省

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on community-based health activities, known as “Chiku-Eisei-Soshiki-Katsudo,” which became increasingly active in post-war Japan. It aimed to clarify the actual situation from the perspective of community participation. The research examined the activities of community organizations initiated by residents in response to post-war measures against infectious diseases, as well as exemplary advanced cases led by public health centers. The findings revealed that the development and expansion of these activities were profoundly influenced by the promotion of health education, which emphasizes “learning through practice”.

Free Research Field

公衆衛生学，医史学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，戦後日本における健康水準の改善・向上を“住民の側から”支えた公衆衛生活動の成功例として「地区衛生組織活動」に着目し，萌芽・発展のプロセスをGHQ/SCAP文書など種々の史資料をもとに多面的に検証した．健康問題の解決に向けた「住民参加による／住民主体の」保健活動は現代的にも重要な課題の一つである．わが国の歴史的経験を検証し，現代の公衆衛生活動への応用可能性を探る研究として，今回得られた知見をもとに今後の研究推進につなげていきたい．