Long-Term Reproductive Health Impacts of World War II Japanese American Internment Camps Revealed

A groundbreaking study by West Virginia University uncovers significant intergenerational effects of the Japanese American incarceration during World War II on reproductive health outcomes. Researchers highlight that women who experienced internment as children faced a higher likelihood of giving birth to less healthy babies, including increased rates of low birth weight, compared to Japanese American women who were not detained.

Daniel Grossman, a health economist and professor at WVU, analyzed data comparing Japanese American mothers born up to a decade after the camps shut down. His findings show that these mothers, especially those born before 1946—likely incarcerated as children—had babies weighing on average 81 grams less than those born to non-incarcerated Japanese American mothers from Hawaii. The study also indicates that babies born to women who endured the trauma of incarceration are more prone to health issues, with an estimated 15% increase in low birth weight cases.

The incarceration orders, signed in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt under national security pretenses, forcibly relocated over 110,000 Japanese Americans from their homes to prison camps. These camps subjected inmates to extreme living conditions, including dust storms, severe temperatures, poor nutrition, and disease outbreaks, which potentially compromised their reproductive health.

Interestingly, the study contrasts the mainland U.S. with Hawaii, where the Japanese population was a substantial part of local society. Only about 1% of Japanese Americans in Hawaii were incarcerated—far fewer than on the mainland—offering a natural comparison group. Results showed that women born before 1946 on the West Coast, likely incarcerated, had babies approximately 81 grams lighter than their Hawaiian counterparts, reflecting the impact of early life trauma and associated discrimination.

Grossman’s research extends to examine the effects on mothers born after the camps closed, during the turbulent resettlement period. He notes that forced migration and community upheaval continued to harm health outcomes for subsequent generations, with women born between 1947 and 1956 experiencing still-significant reproductive health effects.

This research underscores the long-lasting health consequences of forced displacement and incarceration policies, demonstrating that trauma inflicted during early childhood can influence the health of future generations. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding historical injustices and their enduring impact on public health.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-ripple-effects-world-war-ii.html