Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 6/2015

01-12-2015 | Original Paper

A Systematic Review of the Physical, Mental, Social, and Economic Problems of Immigrant Women in the Perinatal Period in Japan

Authors: Sachiko Kita, Mariko Minatani, Naoko Hikita, Masayo Matsuzaki, Mie Shiraishi, Megumi Haruna

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 6/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

The perinatal mortality of immigrants in Japan is higher than that of Japanese women. However, details of the problems of immigrant perinatal women that contribute to worsening of their health are still unknown. This review describes the physical, psychological, social, and economic problems of immigrant women during the perinatal period in Japan. Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Igaku-Chuo Zasshi were searched and 36 relevant articles were reviewed. The related descriptions were collected and analyzed by using content analysis. The results showed that immigrant perinatal women in Japan experienced the following problems: language barriers, a problematic relationship with a partner, illegal residency, emotional distress, physical distress, adjustment difficulties, lack of utilization of services, social isolation, lack of support, lack of information, low economic status, unsatisfactory health care, and discrimination. These results indicated that multilingual services, strengthening of social and support networks, and political action are necessary to resolve their problems.
Literature
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bollini P, Pampallona S, Wanner P, et al. Pregnancy outcome of migration women and integration policy: a systematic review of the international literature. Soc Sci Med. 2009;68(3):452–61.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Gagnon AJ, Zimbeck M, Zeitlin J, et al. Migration to western industrialized countries and perinatal health: a systematic review. Soc Sci Med. 2009;69(6):934–46.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Gagnon AJ, McDermott S, Rigol-Chachamovich J, et al. International migration and gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2011;25(6):575–92.CrossRefPubMed
8.
9.
Kingston D, Heaman M, Chalmers B, et al. Comparison of maternity experiences of Canadian-born and recent and non-recent immigrant women: findings from the Canadian maternity experiences survey. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2011;33(11):1105–15.PubMed
10.
Gissler M, Alexander S, MacFarlane A, et al. Stillbirths and infant deaths among migrants in industrialized countries. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88(2):134–48.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Inami E, Kataoka Y, Eto H, et al. Intimate partner violence against Japanese and non-Japanese women in Japan: a cross-sectional study in the perinatal setting. Jpn J Nurs Sci. 2010;7(1):84–95.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Krippendorff K. Content analysis: an introduction to its methodology. 2nd ed. New Delhi: SAGE Publications; 2003.
13.
Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004;24(2):105–12.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Ichioka T, Goshima M. Discussion about care against foreign pregnant women [in Japanese]. Gifu J Matern Health. 1998;22:33–8.
15.
Fujiwara Y, Horiuchi S. Immigrant women giving birth in Japan: experience of loneliness and isolation [in Japanese]. J Hum Care Stud. 2007;8:38–50.
16.
Koide R, Watanabe M, Sakai T. Nursing interventions toward immigrant women with long hospitalization during pregnancy [in Japanese]. Med J Asahi Gen Hosp. 1997;19(2):264–6.
17.
Inoue C, Matsui M, Lee S, et al. Research into the problems faced by and support given to non-Japanese speakers in need of perinatal care: from an analysis of the deliveries in one hospital over a 12-year period [in Japanese]. J Int Health. 2006;21(1):25–32.
18.
Kaneko K, Tado S. Problems of the foreign pregnant women [in Japanese]. Obstet Gynecol Ther. 1994;68(5):792–6.
19.
Moriya K. Problems of foreign pregnant women: views from a public hospital [in Japanese]. J Jpn Med Assoc. 1994;111(12):1976–83.
20.
Hayashida S, Kataoka Y. A foreign woman who decided to separate from her partner because of his violence: a case study [in Japanese]. J St. Luke’s Soc Nurs Res. 2008;12(2):33–40.
21.
Terada K. Discussion about social works toward foreign women abused from their partners [in Japanese]. Soc Work Res. 2009;35(3):26–32.
22.
Lee S, Higure M. Survey of welfare and health system among both mothers and children with illegal residency [in Japanese]. Jpn J Public Health. 1996;43(4):315–23.
23.
Lee S. Environments around immigrant women working in perinatal period [in Japanese]. Perinat Med. 1992;22(8):1137–43.
24.
Ishidate K. Problems of foreign pregnant women: the views from a public office [in Japanese]. J Jpn Med Assoc. 1994;111(12):1957–61.
25.
Oki M, Ito N, Terashima M, et al. Backgrounds of foreign pregnant women [in Japanese]. Med J Asahi Gen Hosp. 1993;15(2):429–31.
26.
Ito H. Public policy and cares toward foreign pregnant women [in Japanese]. Perinat Care. 1993;12(7):39–44.
27.
Kato E, Mukubo M. Difficulties of foreign pregnant women: the view of a foreign obstetricians [in Japanese]. Perinat Care. 1990;9(12):37–41.
28.
Hashimoto H, Ito K, Yamaji Y, et al. Difficulties of pregnancy, delivery, and child raising for immigrant women in Japan and their strategies for overcoming them [in Japanese]. J Int Health. 2011;25(4):281–93.
29.
Sharts-Hopko NC. Birth in the Japanese context. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1995;24(4):343–51.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Matsuo H, Kitada R, Sakuramoto M, et al. Research of health indicators toward Brazilian women in perinatal period in Shiga prefecture [in Japanese]. Perinat Med. 2007;37(8):1062–7.
31.
Kamo A, Shimada H, Sawada M, et al. Problems and care needs of immigrant pregnant women in a hospital [in Japanese]. J Hamamatsu Med Center. 2009;3(1):59–61.
32.
Nakazawa H. Problems of foreign pregnant women: the view of a private hospital [in Japanese]. J Jpn Med Assoc. 1994;111(12):1963–7.
33.
Nakae H, Osada K, Gomibuchi H, et al. Clinical study of pregnancy and perinatal abnormalities in Asian Foreigners [in Japanese]. Acta Neonatol Jpn. 1998;34(4):804–9.
34.
Yoshida M, Haruna M, Watanabe E, et al. Childrearing difficulties and coping behaviors of Filipino mothers in Japan [in Japanese]. Jpn J Maternal Health. 2009;50(2):422–30.
35.
Inoue C, Lee S, Matsui M, et al. A survey of foreign pregnant women in Japan who did not take prenatal examination: the analysis of the delivery cases for twelve years in a medical institution [in Japanese]. J Child Health. 2005;64(4):534–41.
36.
Tauchi M, Kosida T, Kanade T, et al. A study of families with economic and/or social problems in NICU [in Japanese]. J Child Health. 1994;53(4):588–92.
37.
Takahashi S, Furukawa Y, Masaki K, et al. Study of maternity care for Brazilian Residents in Shiga [in Japanese]. J Hum Nurs Stud. 2007;5:57–71.
38.
Maruyama O, Ito F, Sato N, et al. Health care instructions toward immigrant pregnant women [in Japanese]. Perinat Med. 1992;22(1):60–3.
39.
Taguchi N, Matsumo H, Ioue K, et al. Survey of perinatal health outcomes among foreign women in Kobe [in Japanese]. Health Care. 2005;47(5):381–4.
40.
Kurazawa K, Okuda M, Yamaguchi M, et al. Problems of the users of in-hospital midwifery care [in Japanese]. J Jpn Soc Perinat Neonatal Med. 2010;46(4):1091–3.
41.
Fuller-Thomson E, Rottermann M, Ray JG. Elevated risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes among Filipina-Canadian women. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2010;32(2):113–9.PubMed
42.
Shavers VL, Fagan P, Jones D, et al. The state of research on racial/ethnic discrimination in the receipt of health care. Am J Public Health. 2012;102(5):953–66.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
43.
Lee S, Imaizumi M, Sawada T. A guideline of perinatal interventions toward immigrant mothers and children; the recommendations and analysis of maternal health activities toward immigrant mothers and children in community settings [in Japanese]. Josan Zasshi (J Midwifery). 2003;57(8):64–72.
44.
Collins CH, Zimmerman C, Howard LM. Refugee, asylum seeker, immigrant women and postnatal depression: rates and risk factors. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2011;14(1):3–11.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Leahy-Warren P, McCarthy G. Postnatal depression: prevalence, mother’s perspectives and treatments. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2007;21(2):91–100.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Firdous R, Bhopal RS. Reproductive health of Asian women: a comparative study with hospital and community perspectives. Public Health. 1989;103(4):307–15.CrossRefPubMed
47.
48.
49.
50.
Bollini P, Stotzer U, Wanner P. Pregnancy outcomes and migration in Switzerland: results from a focus group study. Int J Public Health. 2007;52(2):78–86.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Ogasawara T. Clinical problem of childbirth for foreigner in Iwate prefecture Senmaya hospital [in Japanese]. Med J Iwate Prefect Hosp. 2004;44(1):37–42.
52.
Amano H, Tsuchiya Y, Kawai Y, et al. Discussion of foreign residents intervened by medical social workers [in Japanese]. Toyota J Med. 2007;17:179–85.
53.
Kouzu H. Care for immigrant perinatal women in a hospital [in Japanese]. J Jpn Med Assoc. 1994;111(12):1969–75.
54.
Murooka Y, Kiyono Y, Hanzawa K, et al. Care for Filipino perinatal women in a hospital [in Japanese]. Yamagata J Med. 2000;34(1):79–83.
55.
Lee S, Higure M. Survey of foreign perinatal women and their children in welfare offices in Japan [in Japanese]. Jpn J Public Health. 1996;43(6):486–95.
56.
An H, Sumiyoshi Y, Suzuki T, et al. A clinical study of the characteristics in deliveries and neonatal abnormalities of foreigners in Japan: experiences in our hospital during the past ten years [in Japanese]. Acta Neonatol Jpn. 1999;35(3):528–32.
57.
Shiina Y, Takahashi H. Associated factors with perinatal health outcomes [in Japanese]. Obstet Gynecol Pract. 2004;53(10):1533–8.
58.
Goto K, Kato M, Takahashi K. Nursing interventions to enhance good communication with immigrant pregnant women [in Japanese]. Med J Yonezawa City Hosp. 1998;18(1):53–6.
59.
Matsumoto M, Shiina K, Nishimoto M, et al. Discussion of nursing intervention using communication cards toward immigrant pregnant women [in Japanese]. Bull School Nurs Kyoto Prefect Univ Med. 1995;20:73–7.
Metadata
Title
A Systematic Review of the Physical, Mental, Social, and Economic Problems of Immigrant Women in the Perinatal Period in Japan
Authors
Sachiko Kita
Mariko Minatani
Naoko Hikita
Masayo Matsuzaki
Mie Shiraishi
Megumi Haruna
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 6/2015
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0192-2

Other articles of this Issue 6/2015

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 6/2015 Go to the issue

Original Paper

Shame and Anxiety Feelings of a Roma Population in Greece

Original Paper

Postpartum Depression Among Immigrant and Arabic Women: Literature Review

Original Paper

Understanding Service Utilization Disparities and Depression in Latinos: The Role of Fatalismo

Original paper

Association of Race, Ethnicity and Language with Participation in Mental Health Research Among Adult Patients in Primary Care

Brief Communication

The Impact of Education and Socioeconomic and Occupational Conditions on Self-Perceived and Mental Health Inequalities Among Immigrants and Native Workers in Spain

Original paper

“It is an Issue of not Knowing Where to Go”: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Challenges in Accessing Social Support and Services by Immigrant Mothers of Children with Disabilities