2014 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 2-10
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the issues mothers face in regards to child rearing by analyzing data obtained from mothers at health check-up 3 months after delivery. The factors that constitute effective support provided by local maternal and child health institutions were then examined.
Methods: Health examination data, excluding personal data, and self-reported questionnaire responses about child rearing concerns were analyzed for mothers who attended the health check-up 3 months after delivery in Ward B in Osaka City.
Results: Study subjects comprised 2,552 mothers, 1,213 (47.6%) of whom asked for advice about child rearing-related issues. The most common concern was “skin treatment”, followed by “breast-feeding” and “stools.” The common factors among the mothers who asked for advice were as follows: “first-time mothers”; “living in an apartment”; “having problems in life”; “feeling mentally and/or physically ill”; and “the feeling of a lack of time for themselves”. The influence of these factors was statistically significant. On the other hand, 36.1% of the mothers did not ask for advice, even though they had reported being anxious.
Conclusion: Many of the mothers’ concerns pertained to the current situation, and it was found that their backgrounds influenced whether they asked for advice. Some mothers had concerns but neither voiced them or sought advice. These findings suggest that mothers’ concerns and feelings of burden related to child rearing cannot be evaluated based on whether they ask for advice or by the number of concerns they report.
