Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the trends and regional variations in infant mortality rates in Japan.
Method: The data from 1973 to 1998 analysed in this paper were from the Vital Statistics Division, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan.
Results: Infant mortality rates declined significantly between 1973 and 1998 in all regions. Statistically significant differences in infant mortality rates among the regions were observed in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1978. However, the regional differences in infant mortality rates were insignificant thereafter, indicating elimination of regional variations in infant mortality in Japan.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated declines in infant mortality rates in all regions, with elimination of regional variations in infant mortality in Japan in the last two decades. This may be attributable to both qualitative and quantitative improvements in health and medical services in Japan.