Quality of Life in the Meiji, Taisho, and Prewar Showa eras based on Maternal and Fetal Mortality Rates

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26380435
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Economic history
• Research Institution: Surugadai University
• Principal Investigator: murakoshi kazunori 駿河台大学, メディア情報学部, 教授 (80265438)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 妊産婦死亡率 / 死産率 / 新生児死亡率 / 身長発育 / 体位成長 / 戦前期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the quality of life in the Meiji, Taisho, and Prewar Showa eras based on maternal and fetal mortality rates. First, I demonstrated that maternal and fetal mortality rates continuously declined between the late Meiji era and the Prewar Showa era. I then hypothesized that this decline was attributable to improvements not in maternal healthcare but in overall maternal health-related conditions. Specifically, during this period, women became increasingly healthy, rendering them better able to survive the birthing process. I concluded that the above hypothesis was valid based on an analysis of data on the physical size of children and adults.

Free Research Field

歴史人口学