This study aimed to clarify the actual activities of and issues related to the activities of midwives in the comprehensive support of families with children. The content of 38 documents containing reports from specific municipalities was analyzed. Codes for midwives' activities were created and aggregated into subcategories and categories by affiliated institution, and classified them by public project.

　There were 39 codes for the activities of midwives affiliated with municipalities, which were grouped into five categories, including “whole maternal and child health services”, “individual consultation” and “home visits”. There were 57 codes for the activities of midwives at medical institutions, which were summarized into six categories, including “postpartum care”, “participation in local collaboration systems” and “information sharing with public health nurses in charge”. Activities of midwives fell under categories including antenatal and postnatal support projects, postnatal care projects and childcare support visiting projects.

　Midwives joined public health nurses and other professionals in support activities provided by municipalities, and were expanding opportunities to provide midwifery care based in medical institutions as part of local collaborative systems. However, the actual situation of support specific to midwives in sharing roles with other professionals and interprofessional collaboration could not be fully clarified.

　The purpose of this study was to elucidate the current situation in midwifery care, including the causative factors for near-miss events during labor and preventive measures for such events using the P-mSHELL model. Among the data obtained from the authors’ previous study^1）, near-miss events during labor that left the greatest impressions on midwives, including 45 “delays in judging rapid progression of labor” and 32 “errors in intravenous antibiotics,” were analyzed in the present study. Using the P-mSHELL model, categories of causative factors and preventive measures identified by midwives were extracted from these events by the seven model components. Results indicated that, the main causes of miss event during labor were rapid labor is difficult to predict, the lack of personnel, poor judgment of the progression of labor, violation of manuals, and lack of collaboration. Preventive measures were thought to include understanding rapid labor, securing personnel, strengthening the ability to judge the progress of labor, creating manuals, and to strengthen the collaboration. Furthermore, to prevent accidents and near-miss events during labor, its importance was shown to improve the individual midwife’s skills and have an organizational initiative, together with an approach that involves both technical and non-technical skills.

　In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey of representatives from care facilities for elderly adults (long-term care welfare facilities, geriatric health services facilities, and care houses) in Chiba Prefecture regarding the impact of the new coronavirus infection on facility staff. Regarding the amount of nursing care, majority of the respondents answered that it had increased in long-term care welfare facilities and geriatric health services facilities, while another section reported no change in care houses. Increased care was related to infection control and care for the elderly adults, while decreased care was related to recreational activities. Regarding the impact of the new coronavirus infection on the working environment of staff of the care facility, more than 80% reported an increase in the three categories: workload, psychological burden, and physical burden. Looking ahead to the post-corona period, the facilities are considering resuming family visits and events while continuing infection control measures, but along with the difficulty of determining when and how to resume such behavioral restrictions, there also exist management difficulties, like costs for infection control measures and personnel expenses. Furthermore, there were earnest requests for public support even after moving to category 5.

　This study investigates the impact of behavioral restrictions during the new coronavirus pandemic on everyday lives among older adults in care facility of Chiba prefecture (long-term care welfare facilities, geriatric intermediate care facilities, care houses). A questionnaire survey was provided to care facility representatives. The results showed that all facilities had a high positive incidence. The incidence of clusters was higher in long-term care welfare facilities and geriatric intermediate care facilities. All facilities had a higher percentage of opportunity to go out, recreational activities, and family visitation restrictions behavior. The decline was observed in physical activity, gymnastics rehabilitation, recreational activities, scope of activity, walking ability, and relationships with individuals inside and outside the facility suggesting physical or social weakness. Cognitive function and mental status were affected in all the facilities included in this study.

　In June 2023, an individual of the Japanese ratsnake, Elaphe climacophora (Boie, 1826), was found on the Makuhari campus of Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Mihama Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of this species with a voucher specimen from this area. Herein, we describe its detailed characteristics and discuss the implications of its occurrence in this highly urban, reclaimed area.

　This study aimed to understand home helpers as an aid, trace their professional origins back to the early days of “Hashutsufu” (hired housemaids), and examine their relationship with “Hashutsukangofu” (visiting nurses) during the same period. This historical study used primary and secondary sources.

　“Hashutsufu” was thought to have become a modern profession by subdividing housework under the social conditions of the Meiji and Taisho eras when there was a complete dearth of “Jochu” (maid). The “Hashutsufukai” (hired housemaids association) had a similar employment system to that of the “Hashutsukangofukai” (visiting nurse association). However, no historical records indicating their relation were found. They were believed to compete with each other in providing care for patients at home and in hospitals. After both associations were dissolved following the Employment Security Act implementation, individuals from these associations became colleagues at the Paid Nurse and Housekeeper Agency Hospitals introduced a system in which patients were only cared for by the hospital’s nurses, and “Hashutsufu” began to take the role of attending patients instead of “Hashutsukangofu.” The intertwined history of both professions needs to be acknowledged, and a good collaborative relationship should be established based on mutual respect.