Characteristics of midwifery care for foreign Muslim women living in Japan

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of midwifery care for foreign Muslim women living in Japan.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with five midwives who had experience providing midwifery care to Muslim women in obstetric outpatient clinics and hospital wards in Japan. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide and analyzed qualitatively and inductively.

Results

Upon analysis we identified 34 subcategories, 14 categories and three core categories as characteristics of midwifery care for Muslim women. Midwives who provided care to Muslim women focused more on the religious background of the patient than on the background of the patient, such as country of origin or linguistic communication level, which is usually the focus when caring for foreigners, and they were “aware that the patient was a Muslim”. From the early stage, the midwives were “practicing religious considerations based on one's nursing perspective” as professionals, while giving “informed consent and sharing information on religious considerations” with the patient, family members, and medical staff.

Conclusion

Religious considerations were found to be a significant characteristic of midwifery care for Muslim women. Midwives gave informed consent for religious considerations to Muslim women and their families from the early stages of midwifery care, and they practiced religious considerations through trial and error based on one's own nursing perspectives. However, as religion is a sensitive issue, midwives tended to hesitate in addressing the individual needs of Muslim women, even though they were aware of the diversity and uniqueness of each woman's needs. As a result, midwives tended to give Muslim women only uniform consideration. Our study showed that in order to improve midwifery care for Muslim women, it is necessary to factor in the diverse needs of each individual woman and connect them to more culturally appropriate care.