Data
Modification and evaluation of a program to improve reproductive health for refugee women living in Japan
2018 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 37-48
Details
2018 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 37-48
Purpose
According to a refugees support association in Japan, the fact is known that an increasing number of refugee women seeking advice about reproductive health. Based on this, a trial program to improve reproductive health for refugee women living in Japan was held in 2013. The aim of this study was to modify and evaluate the program.
Methods
This is a before-after study. The modified program was held for refugee women between the ages of 15 to 49 living in Japan. The program content included: menstruation and pregnancy, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and genital hygiene. Self-administered-questionnaires before and after the program asked about: knowledge, awareness, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Furthermore, they completed questions about their response to the program content and the setting.
Results
There were 17 program participants and this study focused on seven of the participants ranging in ages from 31 to 48 years and from Southeast Asian countries.
The mean individual knowledge scores increased significantly from 8.43 before the program to 13.00 (p=0.001) after the program. Items responses that increased significantly were: “identification of the ovulation day (p=0.031)”, “the effect of emergency contraception (p=0.031)” and “not washing inside of the vagina (p=0.016)”.
These two items of awareness increased significantly after the program: “I will use a condom (p=0.038)” and “I can use a condom correctly (p=0.041)”. There were no significant differences in the self-efficacy scale, but the self-esteem scale rose significantly (p=0.004).
Half of the women answered “few” about the program number of time and the number of participants. Most respondents were interested in all aspects of using condoms and knowledge of diseases. More than half of the women responded positively about workshops focused on menstrual cycle beads, basal body temperature and how to use a condom.
Conclusion
Refugee women's knowledge and their awareness about reproductive health were improved. Their self-esteem was improved, but self-efficacy was not changed. Challenges for the future are to set the program number of times according to participants and to do a long-term evaluation several months after program implementation.
