Effect of post-Fukushima maternal radiation anxiety on birth outcomes (IMAGE)

Waseda University

Effect of post-Fukushima maternal radiation anxiety on birth outcomes

Caption

Babies born in Japan following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 were preterm and had a lower birth weight than those born before the accident. Maternal anxiety about radiation exposure accounted for a significant proportion of these differences. Therefore, clear communication of risk and provision of psychological support to pregnant women during a disaster is crucial to reducing the risk of poor birth outcomes and long-term consequences to babies.

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Associate Professor Rong Fu of Waseda University, Japan

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