Smoking trends before, during, and after pregnancy among women and their spouses.

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth can act as strong factors motivating parents to spontaneously quit smoking. The aim of the present survey was to establish smoking cessation guidelines for this group. The objectives were to clarify the smoking status of parents before, during and after pregnancy, as well as the factors associated with continuous smoking during pregnancy and post-partum smoking relapse among women who had stopped smoking during pregnancy.

Association between sleep duration and hemoglobin A1c level.

Objective: The association between sleep habits and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level has not been sufficiently examined. In the present study of residents in a local community, the associations between sleep duration and HbA1c level were examined.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to 1062 residents in a rural community in Japan, and completed questionnaires were collected.

Association between subjective well-being and sleep among the elderly in Japan.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sleep and subjective quality of life in an elderly Japanese population.

Methods: Elderly people aged 70 years or more (n=1,769) were selected randomly from all areas of Japan. They were visited and interviewed in November 2003.

Prevalence of smoking and associated factors among pregnant women in Japan.

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of smoking among pregnant women living in Japan and to analyze the factors associated with their smoking behavior.

Method: Five hundred institutions with maternity services were randomly sampled from a list of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Of these institutions, 260 participated in the survey which was conducted in February 2002.

Factors associated with exclusive breast-feeding in Japan: for activities to support child-rearing with breast-feeding.

Background: Benefits of breast-feeding are not only limited to nutrition and sanitation in developing countries but also extend to cost-saving health care and alleviation of anxiety related to childrearing in developed countries. This study aims to elucidate factors associated with exclusive breast-feeding in Japan and use this information to achieve child-rearing support worldwide by promoting breast-feeding.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from a survey conducted by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of the Japanese government, the First Longitudinal Survey of Babies in 21st Century.

Epidemiological study on passive smoking among Japanese infants and smoking behavior of their respective parents: a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Background: Passive smoking is a well-known health hazard for infants. This study was conducted to: (1) estimate the prevalence of passive smoking among Japanese infants and (2) clarify the prevalence of indoor smoking and associating factors among parents having infants.

Methods: Subjects were all 53,575 infants born throughout Japan on January 10-17, 2001 or July 10-17, 2001.

Mental health status, shift work, and occupational accidents among hospital nurses in Japan.

A questionnaire survey was conducted with questions from the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, among others, targeting 4,407 nurses in 8 general hospitals in Japan, in the hope of improving the work environment of nurses and to provide data that will allow a discussion of the measures necessary for preventing medical errors, thus improving occupational health. For each type of accident, the percentage of those who had made medical errors was significantly higher for the "mentally in poor health" group than for the "mentally in good health" group (p<0.0001).

[Relationships between finding of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound and lifestyle in Japanese college students].

Purpose: The actual situation regarding the lifestyle of college students in Japan cannot be said to be healthy and future reduction of bone mass is a possible matter for concern. However, there have been only a few reports about the relationship between lifestyle during this period and bone mass, and especially none focusing on males not affected by female hormones. The purpose of this study was thus to investigate the relationship between bone mass and lifestyle in college students of both sexes.

The prevalence of restless legs syndrome among pregnant women in Japan and the relationship between restless legs syndrome and sleep problems.

Study Objectives: To clarify the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in pregnant women living in Japan and to analyze the relationship between sleep problems and RLS, in order to discuss ways for pregnant women to obtain comfortable sleep and to improve the health of both the mother and child.

Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Setting: 500 clinical institutions with maternity services were randomly sampled from a list of organizations identified in a survey by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

[An epidemiological study of sleep problems among the Japanese pregnant women].

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify: 1) what kinds of sleep problems that pregnant women experience in Japan; and 2) the relationships between sleep problems and month of pregnancy, sleep problems and the number of pregnancies, and sleeping hours, by means of a questionnaire given to pregnant women in Japan. Conditions to assure good quality sleep were studied.

Methods: Of 500 obstetric facilities which were randomly selected from areas surveyed by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 260 finally agreed to participate in this study.