Article ID: JJAM-2023-0039
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of reproductive health and rights (RHR) in Japanese people and the state of their medical experiences surrounding unplanned pregnancy.
Methods
An online questionnaire was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022, targeting Japanese men and women subjects aged 20 or above. The questionnaire content included the participant's background, knowledge of RHR and sexuality, coping behavior regarding RHR, unplanned pregnancy consultation, and medical experience of abortion. Quantitative and qualitative data were assessed via descriptive statistics and content analysis.
Results
Valid responses from 367 women and 368 men were analyzed. We found that 11.4% of women and 3.0% of men responded that they were “familiar with RHR.” Information regarding sexuality was obtained from the internet; however, 65.9% of women and 79.3% of men responded that they were unconfident or did not know whether their information about sexuality was correct. The role of midwives regarding sexual reproduction was known by 32.4% of women and 14.1% of men. A total of 30.0% of women and 24.5% of men responded that the contraception method must be determined by the women and that their desire must be respected. The decision for the woman “to give birth” was the same by the woman herself in 45.2% of cases and by the woman and her partner as a couple in 43.6% of cases. In contrast, the decision “not to give birth” was made as a couple in 48.8% of cases, while the woman herself in 24.0% of cases was low. Furthermore, 6.8% of both women and men had an abortion in the past, and 14.7% of women and 12.8% of men had received unplanned pregnancy counseling. Both men and women felt hurt by the treatment from the medical staff. They wanted the medical staff to listen to what they had to say without rejection, to have a kind attitude, and to provide accurate information.
Conclusion
RHR was not prevalent among Japanese men and women. Information regarding treatment from medical staff regarding unplanned pregnancy was unavailable in medical systems that took RHR into account. Therefore, RHR needs to be popularized, and the awareness of medical staff who protect RHR needs to be increased.
