The current situation and issues in the maternal and child health services provided by public health nurses to foreigners residing in Japan
- VernacularTitle:保健師による外国人への母子保健サービス提供の現状と課題
—愛知県の市町村に勤務する保健師へのアンケート調査の分析から—
- Author:
Tadashi Yamashita
;
Hiroya Matsuo
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
public health nurse;
foreigners residing in Japan;
maternal and child health;
health care service
- From:Journal of International Health
2012;27(4):373-380
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Introduction
Compared to Japanese nationals, foreigners residing in Japan have a poor rate of maternal and child mortality and utilization of maternal and child health services. In this study, we examine the maternal and child health services provided by public health nurses to foreigners residing in Japan.
Methods
Questionnaires were administered to public health nurses working at local health centers in Aichi prefecture.
Results
Among the respondents, 4.5% were satisfied with the support system offered to foreigners residing in Japan, and 41.5% had offered their services to foreigners residing in Japan with various ideas. The following factors significantly affected satisfaction in public health nurses: acceptance by foreigners residing in Japan of the home of a newborn and maternal and child health check-ups (P=0.037, P=0.001, respectively), utilization of translators (P=0.002), and adopting a positive attitude towards providing health care services to foreigners residing in Japan (P=0.028).
Conclusions
Public health nurses in Japan are not satisfied with the health care services they offer foreigners residing in Japan. The results of this study suggest that it is important to provide them with multilingual materials and help them develop a positive attitude towards offering health care services to foreigners residing in Japan.
