Social life factors affecting stillbirth, and infant and adult-disease mortality

The effects of a wide variety of social life factors on stillbirth rate as well as infant and adult-disease mortality rates in 46 prefectures in Japan were analyzed by stepwise regression analysis twice at a 5-year interval. Adult-disease mortality was calculated by summing age-adjusted mortality from five major causes of death. The results indicated that rural residence was the key factor affecting infant and adult-disease mortality; low income, together with social mobility, was the principal factor for stillbirth. International differences in the effects of urbanisation on these mortality rates are discussed in the light of these findings.