Development of the community support program for expectant and nursing foreign mothers in Japan

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24168
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Toyama Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Nishimura Kaori 富山県立大学, 看護学部, 助教 (20846133)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 在日外国人女性 / 支援プログラム / 経験 / コミュニティ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to ① reveal the reality of the information network and problem-solving within the community of expectant and nursing foreign mothers in Japan, ② develop a community support program, and simultaneously ③ develop a community support program for nurses. Using the ethnography method, participant observation and interviews of 10 foreign women and their communities in Japan were conducted.
According to the analysis results, while the initial confusion that foreign women may have regarding pregnancy, birth, and child-rearing, as well as the differences in the medical system of pregnancy checkups, may ease due to the support of those from the same country, it was clear that the sense of isolation they feel during the child-rearing stage has not been resolved. Based on these results, the support program for expectant and nursing foreign mothers in Japan was created.

Free Research Field

助産学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本邦で妊娠・出産を経験する女性が増加する中、言語・コミュニケーションに特化した支援は行われているが、異文化理解や妊娠・出産・育児の支援者となる母国のコミュニティの実態をふまえた支援は明らかとなっていない。本研究では在日外国人女性とそのコミュニティの実態を明らかにした上で支援プログラムの作成を試みた。母国のコミュニティを通して情緒的支援、文化の伝承は行われているが、医療システムの違いによる戸惑いや育児の孤独感は解消していない。妊娠期からの十分な説明や看護者との関係性の構築、コミュニティ拡大への支援により、在日外国人女性の安全で安心した医療の確保および、育児の孤独感の軽減につなげることができる。