Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 6, 2015, Pages 1863-1881

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

Kita S. , Minatani M. , Hikita N. , Matsuzaki M. , Shiraishi M. , Haruna M.*
  • a Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
  • b Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
  • c Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
  • d Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
  • e Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
  • f Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

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. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Japan immigrant women Problems Perinatal period Review

Index Keywords

communication barrier Communication Barriers Interpersonal Relations poverty perinatal mortality mental health human epidemiology social isolation statistics and numerical data Stress, Psychological mental stress health status language ethnology human relation Undocumented Immigrants Humans migrant undocumented immigrant psychology Japan Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation Socioeconomic Factors female socioeconomics pregnancy cultural factor
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946472779&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-015-0192-2&partnerID=40&md5=f2290735661c9cd624e7c4048df4513b
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0192-2
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English