Maternity leave policies for medical students in Japan
- VernacularTitle:日本の医学部及び医学系大学院に学ぶ女性の出産時休暇の現況
- Author:
Shizuko Nagata-KOBAYASHI
;
Hiroshi KOYAMA
;
Takuro SHIMBO
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
medical education;
maternity leave;
female student;
Japan
- From:Medical Education
2008;39(3):183-186
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
1) Although maternity leave can facilitate the professional success of female students.The extent to which maternity leave is implemented remains unknown.A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of all Japanese medical schools and postgraduate schools in medicine (N=81) was performed.Responses were received from 55 medical schools and postgraduate medical schools (response rate=67.9%).The results showed that no school had formally established a maternity leave policy for students.
2) We found that medical educators had reorganized clinical clerkship programs to accommodate the pregnancies of students but expressed confusion about how to manage such situations.
3) We also found that many female postgraduate students drop out because of pregnancy or child-care responsibilities. Medical schools and postgraduate schools should recognize the importance of maternity leave and should not close their doors to pregnant students who are contending with both motherhood and academic achievement.
