Japanese Women's Concerns and Satisfaction With Pregnancy Care in the United States

Immigrant women report a high level of stress during pregnancy due to language barriers, cultural differences, and differences in the standard of prenatal care. In this study, we evaluated the level of concern Japanese women in the United States feel during pregnancy and their level of satisfaction with their care. This data can be used to modify prenatal care programs and education to address these concerns. Data collected from 96 women showed there was a high level of prenatal concern regarding their baby's health, pain control, the short length of hospitalization after birth, and the lack of breastfeeding support. Despite these concerns, postpartum women ended up being satisfied with all items except the short duration of their hospital stay.

Keywords: immigrant health; pregnancy satisfaction; prenatal concerns; prenatal education.