Improving maternal and child health in Japan by monitoring Sustainable Development Goal indicators and their limitations

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  • OSAWA Eri
    Department of International Health and Collaboration, National Institute of Public Health
  • KODAMA Tomoko
    Department of International Health and Collaboration, National Institute of Public Health

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Other Title
  • 持続可能な開発目標モニタリング指標における日本の母子保健の向上とその指標の限界
  • ジゾク カノウ ナ カイハツ モクヒョウ モニタリング シヒョウ ニ オケル ニホン ノ ボシ ホケン ノ コウジョウ ト ソノ シヒョウ ノ ゲンカイ

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Abstract

<p>In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly ratified the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set 2030 as the target year for their achievement. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) was identified as a remaining challenge from the Millennium Development Goals. The SDGs address maternal and child health concerning maternal mortality, under-five and neonatal mortality, young childbirth, and essential health service coverage under Universal Health Coverage, in which everyone has access to quality health services without financial risks, such as access to family planning, prenatal care, child immunization, and child pneumonia treatment. Many of these goals have already been achieved in Japan. Particularly, maternal and child mortality has been improved since 1900 by measures such as the implementation of rural health surveys to assess the health status of mothers and children; the establishment of Aiiku-Kai, community-based maternal and child support activities carried out by local residents; and the promotion of institutional deliveries and health education by municipal maternal and child health centers.</p><p>Japan lacks primary data regarding access to prenatal care and the treatment of pneumonia in children and there are limitations in the collection of data for SDG indicators related to maternal and child health. Additionally, these goals and indicators are not appropriate for improving the current state of maternal and child health in Japan. Japan cannot monitor achievement of the SDGs' principle of “leaving no one behind” under the current situation. The challenges of maternal and child health as expressed in the SDGs should not be considered issues of the past for Japan. Rather, it is necessary to consider current maternal and child health challenges in Japan from the perspective of initiatives in the SDGs' philosophy of “leaving no one behind.”</p>

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