Measurement and Analysis Method for “Ikumen” Activities Including Childcare Tasks using a Triaxial Accelerometer

Abstract

As the birthrate decline becomes increasingly serious in Japan and other developed countries, the childrearing generation is actively suggesting that fathers also take care of their children. Such men are called “ikumen” in Japan. However, daily childcare in the home certainly puts a burden on their daily lives since these men have jobs outside of the home where they often have long work hours during the weekdays and even sometimes on the weekend and during holidays, especially in Japan. If the physical activity quantity burden can be measured quantitatively in real-time for childcare, then it might improve (Kaizen) childcare work using industrial engineering concepts. Additionally, the childcare services for supporting a ikumen might be innovated with this quantitative measurement and analysis of activities.  This research measures ikumen activities using large physical exercise quantity with a real-time triaxial accelerometer as a life log of a daily life, analyzes the characteristics and trends of the quantity of physical activity during childcare, and discusses supporting ikumen using industrial engineering concepts. First, the triaxial accelerometer (OMRON HEALTHCARE) (Oshima, 2011) is attached to ikumen and non-ikumen, and their life logs are recorded for an extended period of time. Next, using the accumulated life logs, how childcare affects the body from the perspective of the quantity of physical activity is analyzed. Finally, based on the measurements and analysis, the results for supporting ikumen with industrial engineering concepts are discussed.