On Public Health in Early Year of the Showa Era

—Maternal and Child Health—

Abstract

In this paper, maternal and child health, which had been involved in the problems of public health in the early years of the Showa Era, were described.1) From the Taisho era to the early years of the Showa era, birth rate in Japan was around 30 per 1, 000 population, while death rate was around 20 per 1, 000 population.2) In 1926, the infant death rate had been 13.6 per 100 live births, still birth rate was 55.7 per 1, 000 total births, and maternal mortality rate was 27.1 per 10, 000 total births(live birth and still birth).Maternal care was supported, in part, by the Poor Lave(1929), but govermental services for the maternal care not sufficient by the reason of financial panic.Therefore, maternal and child health had not been improved in those days in Japan.