A systematic review of the physical, mental, social, and economic problems of immigrant women in the perinatal period in 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.
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Social isolation is associated with negative mental health outcomes after childbirth (anxiety, stress and regret) among immigrant women in the perinatal period in Japan.
“a systematic review of immigrant women in the perinatal period in Japan identified an association between social isolation and negative mental health outcomes after childbirth such as anxiety, stress and regret 50 .”
From An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness (2017) · cites this paper as [50]
The overview found an association (+) between social networks and relationships and depression and anxiety, supported by one review or multiple lower quality reviews.
“| Depression and anxiety (Ouimet et al 2001, Kita et al 2015, Santini et al 2015, Schwarzbach et al 2014, Teo et al 2013) | ++ | | + |”
From An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness (2017) · cites this paper as Kita et al 2015
The overview found an association (++) between social isolation and depression and anxiety, supported by one or more higher quality reviews.
“| Depression and anxiety (Ouimet et al 2001, Kita et al 2015, Santini et al 2015, Schwarzbach et al 2014, Teo et al 2013) | ++ | | + |”
From An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness (2017) · cites this paper as Kita et al 2015
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- Authors
- Kita, S., Minatani, M., Hikita, N., Matsuzaki, M., Shiraishi, M., & Haruna, M.
- Affiliations
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Haruna, Megumi
- Venue
- Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Published
- 2015-03-18
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1863-1881
- ISSN
- 1557-1912 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1920
- OpenAlex
- W2090404469
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 0.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- immigrant women, perinatal period, perinatal mortality, language barriers, couple relationships, emotional distress, social isolation, discrimination, economic status, multilingual services, social support networks, Japan
- MeSH terms
- Acculturation, Undocumented Immigrants, Communication Barriers, Female, Health Status, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Japan, Language, Mental Health, Poverty, Pregnancy, Social Isolation, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological, Perinatal Mortality, Emigrants and Immigrants
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