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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

The prevalence of psychological distress during pregnancy in Miyagi Prefecture for 3 years after the Great Eas t Japan Earthquake

Authors: Kaou Tanoue, Zen Watanabe, Hidekazu Nishigori, Noriyuki Iwama, Michihiro Satoh, Takahisa Murakami, Kousuke Tanaka, Satomi Sasaki, Kasumi Sakurai, Mami Ishikuro, Taku Obara, Masatoshi Saito, Junichi Sugawara, Nozomi Tatsuta, Shinichi Kuriyama, Takahiro Arima, Kunihiko Nakai, Nobuo Yaegashi, Hirohito Metoki, Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group

Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

To examine changes in psychological distress prevalence among pregnant women in Miyagi Prefecture, which was directly affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and compare it with the other, less damaged areas of Japan.

Methods

This study was conducted in conjunction with the Japan Environment and Children`s Study. We examined 76,152 pregnant women including 8270 in Miyagi Regional Center and 67,882 in 13 other regional centers from the all-birth fixed data of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. We then compared the prevalence and risk of distress in women in Miyagi Regional Center and women in the 13 regional centers for 3 years after the disaster.

Results

Women in the Miyagi Regional Center suffered more psychological distress than those in the 13 regional centers: OR 1.38 (95% CI, 1.03–1.87) to 1.92 (95% CI, 1.42–2.60). Additionally, women in the inland area had a consistently higher prevalence of psychological distress compared to those from the 13 regional centers: OR 1.67 (95% CI, 1.18–2.38) to 2.19 (95% CI, 1.60–2.99).

Conclusions

The lack of pre-disaster data in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study made it impossible to compare the incidence of psychological distress before and after the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. However, 3 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the prevalence of pregnant women with psychological distress did not improve in Miyagi Regional Center. Further, the prevalence of mental illness in inland areas was consistently higher than that in the 13 regional centers after the disaster.

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Title: The prevalence of psychological distress during pregnancy in Miyagi Prefecture for 3 years after the Great Eas t Japan Earthquake
Authors: Kaou Tanoue
Zen Watanabe
Hidekazu Nishigori
Noriyuki Iwama
Michihiro Satoh
Takahisa Murakami
Kousuke Tanaka
Satomi Sasaki
Kasumi Sakurai
Mami Ishikuro
Taku Obara
Masatoshi Saito
Junichi Sugawara
Nozomi Tatsuta
Shinichi Kuriyama
Takahiro Arima
Kunihiko Nakai
Nobuo Yaegashi
Hirohito Metoki
Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 1342-078X
Electronic ISSN: 1347-4715
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-021-00944-2

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

The prevalence of psychological distress during pregnancy in Miyagi Prefecture for 3 years after the Great Eas t Japan Earthquake

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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