Abstract
To examine the effect of perinatal helicopter transportation on maternal and child health. Helicopter transportation for the sparsely populated southern areas of Wakayama and Mie prefectures was introduced in June 2003. Maternal and child health statistics for 2000–2002 and 2004–2006 were compared between the south and north regions of the prefectures. There were 9 maternal transports from south Wakayama, 2 from north Wakayama, and 5 from south Mie in 2004–2006; and 13 neonatal transports from south Wakayama and 7 from north Wakayama during the same period. Decreases in neonatal and perinatal mortalities in 2004–2006 compared to 2000–2002 were greater in south Wakayama than in north Wakayama (−0.31 vs. −0.28, and −0.57 vs. −0.18, respectively); and greater in south Mie than in north Mie (−0.90 vs. −0.49, and −2.49 vs. −1.48, respectively). The changes in the number of maternal deaths between 2000–2002 and 2004–2006 were 0 in south Wakayama, 1 in north Wakayama, −2 in south Mie, and −1 in north Mie, with the greatest change occurring in south Mie. Use of a helicopter for perinatal transportation can possibly improve maternal and child health in sparsely populated areas far away from urban areas.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport Medicine. (2007). Neonatal ICU Consideration. In D. A. Woodward (Ed.), Guidelines for air and ground transport of neonatal and pediatric patients (Vol. 3, pp. 333–340). Elk Groove Village: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Okutani, T., et al. (2006). The “doctor helicopter” system for perinatal medicine in Wakayama. Journal of Japan Society Perinatal Neonatal Medicine, 42, 30–35.
Department of Health and Welfare, Mie Prefecture. Vital statistics in Mie. http://www.pref.mie.jp/DATABOX/link.htm.
Division of Health, Department of Health and Welfare, Wakayama Prefecture. Vital Statistics in Wakayama.
Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. MHLW Statistical Database. http://wwwdbtk.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/index.html http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg/050100/dotai/dotaihyoshi.htm.
Maternal and Child Health Division. (2006). Children and Families Bureau, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor, Japan. Notes. In: Mothers’ & Children’s Health & Welfare Association (Ed.), Maternal and Child Health Statistics of Japan (pp. 10–13). Tokyo: Mothers’ & Children’s Health Organization.
Ohara, M., et al. (2008). Safety and usefulness of maternal transport using a helicopter. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 34, 189–194.
American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport Medicine. (2007). Transport physiology and stresses of transport. In D. A. Woodward (Ed.), Guidelines for air and ground transport of neonatal and pediatric patients (3rd ed., pp. 197–218). Elk Groove Village: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the director of Yuasa Health Center, Dr. Seiji Morioka for statistical analysis and the medical flight staff in the Department of Emergency Medicine for their cooperation with perinatal helicopter transportation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumagai, T., Higuchi, R., Okutani, T. et al. Changes in Maternal and Child Health Outcomes After Introduction of a Helicopter into Perinatal Transportation in Japan. Matern Child Health J 15, 255–259 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0567-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0567-x