Abstract
Background and Purpose
In recent years, there have been an increase of pregnant non-Japanese women who experience pregnancy, childbirth and child raising in Japan. The purpose of this study is to clarify the types based on experiences of socially high-risk non-Japanese pregnant women in Japan from the gestation period to one month after childbirth.
Method
A qualitative descriptive study using a trajectory equifinality model was conducted. 12 non-Japanese pregnant women who had given birth in primary medical institutions in areas with increasing foreign populations were selected. Semi-structured interviews and participant observations were conducted on the gestation, intrapartem and postpartum periods. The results were analyzed based on a trajectory equifinality model.
Results
5 types were found based on paths of subjective experiences from the gestation period to 1 month after childbirth of non-Japanese pregnant women in Japan. Type 1 [Coping without problems, able to anticipate one’s pregnancy, childbirth and child rearing based on past experiences] Type 2 [Choosing whether to cope according to bodily changes with pregnancy/childbirth and understanding of the Japanese medical system or to seek medical care] Type 3 [Coping without being able to rely on Japanese medical staff due to lack of linguistic/cultural understanding of one’s bodily changes with pregnancy/childbirth and the Japanese medical system] Type 4 [Depending on the community of fellow countrymen and not relying on Japanese medical staff due to not being able to understand bodily changes with pregnancy/childbirth and the Japanese medical system] and Type 5 [Accepting minimum medical support based on one’s personal convictions].
Observations
It was indicated that in providing support for non-Japanese pregnant women living in Japan during the gestation period to 1 month after childbirth, it is necessary to take into account the community to which the pregnant women belong and their convictions.
