Kyushu University Academic Staff Educational and Research Activities Database
List of Papers
Naoko Hikita Last modified date:2023.12.06

Professor / Department of Health Sciences / Faculty of Medical Sciences


Papers
1. Hikita N, Haruna M, Matsuzaki M, Shiraishi M, Takehara K, Dagvadorj A, Sumya N, Bavuusuren B, Baljinnyam P, Ota E, Mori R, Utilisation of maternal and child health handbook in Mongolia: A cross-sectional study., Health Education Journal, 10.1177/0017896917753649, 77, 4, 458-469, 2018.02.
2. Items for assessment of infant skin problems: A literature review.
3. Naoko Hikita, Enkhtungalag Batsaikhan, Satoshi Sasaki, Megumi Haruna, Ariunaa Yura, Otgontogoo Oidovsuren, Evaluation of salt intake estimated from 24-h urinary sodium excretion in medical professionals in Darkhan-Uul Province, Mongolia: a cross-sectional study, Scientific Reports, 10.1038/s41598-023-37631-x, 13, 1, 2023.06, Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the daily salt intake of medical professionals working in public health facilities in Darkhan-Uul Province, Mongolia. We conducted a multiple logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with their consumption of salt exceeding the recommended daily salt intake (≥ 5 g/day). A self-administered questionnaire and 24-h urine samples were used to obtain data on the participants’ salt intake. Of 338 participants, 159 completed the 24-h urine collection. The mean sodium excretion into urine was 122.3 mmol/day, which was equivalent to a mean salt intake of 7.7 g/day when the urinary excretion rate was considered as 93%. Body mass index was positively correlated with excess salt intake (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.46), while age was negatively correlated with excess salt intake (AOR: 0.95; 95% CI 0.91–1.00). Participants who consumed ≥ 2 cups of salted suutei tsai (Mongolian milk tea) daily had a higher risk of consuming ≥ 5 g/day of salt than those who consumed ≤ 1 cup/day. The average estimated salt intake of the participants was higher than the recommended value. Medical professionals should be aware of factors associated with excessive salt consumption and make appropriate adjustments to minimize it..
4. Mariko Maejima, Kaori Yonezawa, Emi Sasagawa, Naoko Hikita, Yuriko Usui, Megumi Haruna, Psychological factors of pregnant women associated with inadequate maternal weight gain in Japan, The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 10.1080/14767058.2023.2217466, 36, 1, 2217466-2217466, 2023.05, OBJECTIVES: Inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) has been associated with low birth weight (LBW). However, factors associated with inadequate GWG in Japan remain unclear. Here, we aimed to determine the factors associated with inadequate GWG and the characteristics of inadequate GWG based on the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) among pregnant women in Japan. METHODS: This observational study included pregnant women at ≥16 weeks of gestation. The study was conducted at two general hospitals in Tokyo, Japan. The participants were requested to complete a questionnaire during the antenatal checkup visit and a mail survey after childbirth. Data were also collected from medical records. The GWG level and associated factors were assessed using the chi-square test or t-test. RESULTS: In total, 252 pregnant women were recruited and completed the questionnaires. Data from 128 pregnant women were analyzed. Overall, 23 (18.0%) women were classified as having inadequate GWG. The factors associated with inadequate GWG were as follows: pre-pregnancy underweight, hospital admission owing to hyperemesis, low body esteem, high Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score, low target GWG, more significant weight loss during pregnancy when compared with that pre-pregnancy, high maximum weight loss during pregnancy, delay in return to pre-pregnancy weight, lower birth weight, and inadequate GWG perception. Pregnant women with inadequate weight gain did not receive any medical advice to avoid being overweight but were rather advised to gain additional weight. CONCLUSION: Target GWG and low body esteem were associated with inadequate GWG and other factors that could be modified. Medical staff should focus on achieving the target GWG and improving the body appreciation level among pregnant women..
5. Naoko Hikita, Kiyoko Mizuhata, Ritsuko Iso, Akemi Isoyama, Midwives’ perception of the effects of footbaths for women in labor: A cross-sectional study, Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 10.5430/jnep.v13n4p23, 13, 4, 23-23, 2022.12, Footbaths are generally used for women in labor in clinical settings in Japan. However, it is unclear how their effects are perceived by midwives, or what effects they expect. Therefore, this study aimed to describe midwives’ perception of footbaths’ effects for women in labor. This cross-sectional study was conducted during January–March, 2022. Participants were midwives who worked at perinatal medical centers in the Kanto region. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. A total of 364 midwives were asked to participate; of these, 291 (79.9%) responded to the questionnaires. The participants’ mean age was 35.6 years old, and 120 (41.2%) had graduated from vocational schools. The average clinical experience was 12.1 years. Regarding the effects of footbaths, 274 (94.2%) participants selected “relaxes,” whereas 166 (57.0%) selected “strengthens uterine contractions.” These effects were related to educational attainment and the source of information about the effects of footbaths. Midwives’ perception of footbaths’ effects differed; thus, it is necessary to conduct studies which clarify the effects of footbaths in the future and to disseminate the results..
6. Manami Matsubara, Megumi Haruna, Kaori Yonezawa, Moeri Yokoyama, Emi Tahara-Sasagawa, Naoko Hikita, Yoshie Nakamura, Yoko Mizuno, Hiromi Sanada, Nao Tamai, Masatoshi Abe, Kosuke Kashiwabara, Development and validation of an infant facial skin assessment tool: a prospective observational study, BMC Pediatrics, 10.1186/s12887-022-03691-7, 22, 1, 614-614, 2022.10, Abstract

Background

Severe infant eczema on the face should be treated early because it may lead to allergic diseases in the future. However, caregivers find it difficult to assess. A visual tool for caregivers is needed to easily determine infants’ facial skin condition severity based on the tool’s scores. We developed an infant facial skin assessment tool (IFSAT) and evaluated its reliability and validity.

Methods

The IFSAT draft was developed based on results of a previous literature review and qualitative sketch. Panels including medical professionals and a caregiver checked the draft’s content and face validity, and the IFSAT was finalized. To test the IFSAT’s reliability and validity, caregivers and one-month-old infants were recruited. Two scoring methods were additionally created based on the relation between the items and cure period. The relationships between scores and cure period, and the ability to predict whether the infant needed medical treatment were examined by each scoring method. For the predictive validity, scores for infants requiring medical treatment and those for infants who did not were also compared. For the intra-examiner reliability analysis, two pediatricians rated the scores separately twice using photographs. Inter-rater reliabilities were analyzed among pediatricians, nurses, and caregivers.

Results

Altogether, 113 infant-caregiver pairs participated in the testing phase. Of the two scoring methods created (versions 1 and 2), pediatricians’ and caregivers’ scores using versions 1 and 2 were related to the cure period. These scores predict whether the infant needed medical treatment. We then selected version 2 based on the medical professionals’ opinions. The scores of caregivers of infants requiring medical treatment were higher than those of caregivers of infants not requiring treatment (p < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of intra-examiner reliability was 0.87. The ICC of inter-rater reliabilities between pediatricians’ and caregivers’ scores and between nurses’ and caregivers’ scores were 0.66, and 0.66, respectively.

Conclusions

The proposed IFSAT may be used to assess whether infants need medical treatment and whether to extend the cure period. The tool’s reliability and validity were confirmed..
7. Yokoyama M, Yonezawa K, Matsubara M, Hikita N, Sasagawa E, Haruna M., The factors related to recovery time of diaper dermatitis in infants: A prospective observational study, Jpn J Nurs Sci., 10.1111/jjns.12492, 2022.06.
8. The Survey on Career Progress for Career Support among Alumni of Graduate Program of Midwifery, Dokkyo Medical University:A Cross-Sectional Study.
9. Chihiro Sugawara, Hayato Yamana, Emi Sasagawa, Kaori Yonezawa, Naoko Hikita, Kojiro Morita, Hiroki Matsui, Hideo Yasunaga, Megumi Haruna, Factors Associated with Surgical Treatment in Postpartum Women with Mastitis or Breast Abscess: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Breastfeeding Medicine, 10.1089/bfm.2021.0244, 17, 3, 233-238, 2022.03, Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with requiring surgical treatment for mastitis or breast abscess in postpartum mothers. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using the Japan Medical Data Center Claims Database. Information on pairs of infants born between April 2012 and December 2016 and their mothers were extracted. Data regarding the baseline characteristics, medical history, medical practice, and prescription drugs of mothers and their infants were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with undergoing surgical treatment. Results: The data of 69,363 eligible mothers were analyzed. The proportion of mothers who were diagnosed with mastitis or breast abscess within 1 year after childbirth was 10.8% (7,516/69,363). There were 114 mothers who underwent surgical treatment within 1 year after childbirth. This was 0.2% of all mothers and 1.5% of those diagnosed with mastitis or breast abscess. Surgical treatment was significantly associated with mothers having their first child (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-4.07) compared to those with a second or later child; it was also significantly associated with the diagnosis of breast abscess (AOR, 10.38; 95% CI, 5.28-20.40). Conclusions: This was the first report of the prevalence of mastitis or breast abscess and the requirement for surgical treatment among postpartum mothers in Japan. A first diagnosis of breast abscess and having a first child were associated with requiring surgical treatment. Health care professionals providing postpartum care should be aware of these factors..
10. Naoko Hikita, Enkhtungalag Batsaikhan, Satoshi Sasaki, Megumi Haruna, Ariunaa Yura, Otgontogoo Oidovsuren, Factors Related to Lacking Knowledge on the Recommended Daily Salt Intake among Medical Professionals in Mongolia: A Cross-Sectional Study., International journal of environmental research and public health, 10.3390/ijerph18083850, 18, 8, 2021.04, In Mongolia, the recommendations are to restrict salt intake to less than 5 g/day to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to reveal factors associated with not knowing the recommended daily salt intake among medical professionals in Mongolia. Of the recruited 538 medical professionals working at public health facilities in Darkhan-Uul Province, the data from 338 (62.8%), obtained using self-administered questionnaires, were analyzed. Among these, 175 (51.8%) did not know the recommended daily salt intake. Compared with medical doctors, midwives and nurses had higher odds of not knowing the recommendations (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 4.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-12.59; AOR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.15-3.76, respectively). Compared to participants who consumed more than four cups/day of salted suutei tsai (Mongolian milk tea), those who consumed approximately two cups/week had lower odds of not knowing the recommendations (AOR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07-0.63). With most participants lacking accurate knowledge on this topic, and considering that people who are aware of the recommendations are more likely to take action to reduce dietary salt intake, it is imperative to urgently address this knowledge deficit because medical professionals have a responsibility to educate the community by disseminating accurate health information..
11. Shimizu S, Yonezawa K, Haruna M, Sasagawa E, Hikita N, Sanada H, Minematsu T, Relationship between the skin barrier function of 2-week-old infants after bathing and facial skin problems during the first 6 weeks of life: A prospective observational cohort study., Jpn J Nurs Sci., 10.1111/jjns.12408, e12408, 2021.02, AIM: This study aimed to identify the relationship between the skin barrier function after bathing at 2 weeks of age and subsequent facial skin problems during the first 6 weeks of life. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted from July 2017 to February 2018 on healthy newborns aged 2 weeks. Skin barrier function was evaluated before bathing and at 30 and 90 min after bathing by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH), sebum secretion, and skin pH. Infantile facial skin problems were assessed using skin condition diaries maintained by a parent for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Analysis of the data from 56 infants showed that 29 infants (51.8%) experienced facial skin problems from 2 to 6 weeks of age. A lesser change in the sebum secretion on the forehead before bathing to 90 min after bathing and a higher SCH of the forehead before bathing were less likely to result in facial skin problems (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97-0.99; AOR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: A greater change in the sebum secretion on the forehead before bathing to 90 min after bathing and a lower SCH of the forehead before bathing were associated with subsequent infantile facial skin problems, indicating that a better ability to recover after bathing is important to prevent facial skin problems. Future studies should identify factors that enhance the recuperative functions of infantile skin..
12. Kiyoko Mizuhata, Hatsumi Taniguchi, Mieko Shimada, Naoko Hikita, Seiichi Morokuma, Effects of Breastfeeding on Stress Measured by Saliva Cortisol Level and Perceived Stress, Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal, 10.31372/20200503.1100, 5, 3, 128-138, 2020.12, Purpose: The effects of breastfeeding on postpartum depression symptoms and stress using physiological measures require investigation.
Background: Breastfeeding suppresses the secretion of cortisol. Oxytocin levels correlate negatively with symptoms of postpartum depression.
Aim: To investigate the effects of breastfeeding on stress and postpartum depression.
Methods: We examined 79 breastfeeding women using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, and measured the salivary cortisol levels before and after breastfeeding.
Findings: There was a negative correlation between the duration of suckling and changes in salivary cortisol levels following breastfeeding (rs = −0.333, p < 0.05). Salivary cortisol levels immediately following breastfeeding were significantly lower compared to mothers who used mixed feeding methods (p < 0.001).
Breastfeeding mothers had lower perceived stress than mothers using mixed feeding methods (β = −0.260, p < 0.05). There was no association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression; however, there was an association between postpartum depression and perceived stress (β = 0.622, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Salivary cortisol levels significantly decreased following breastfeeding, with longer suckling times correlating with lower cortisol levels. Breastfeeding reduced stress and increased breastfeeding self-efficacy..
13. Rina Matsubara, Naoko Hikita, Megumi Haruna, Emi Sasagawa, Kaori Yonezawa, Yumi Maeda, Yuka Ikeda, Factors Associated with Time Spent Performing Housework/Childcare by Fathers of Children Aged Under 12 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan, Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal, 10.31372/20200503.1111, 5, 3, 153-164, 2020.12, Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with time spent performing housework/childcare by fathers of children under 12 years of age (preschool and elementary school children) in Japan.
Methods: An online survey of employees and employers was conducted in 2017. Of the 7,796 total responses to the survey, those of 621 fathers of children aged 0–12 years were analyzed. Participants were divided into two groups: fathers of children aged 0–6 years, and fathers of children aged 7–12 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on the items for which there was a significant intergroup difference, setting time spent performing housework as the dependent variable and the survey items as the independent variables.
Results: For fathers of children aged 0–6 years, working 40 hours or less per week and commuting for one hour or less were associated with more time spent performing housework/childcare. For fathers of children aged 7–12 years, working less than 40 hours a week, working from home more than once a week, and having spouses with
full-time jobs were associated with more time spent performing housework/childcare.
Conclusion: This study revealed the factors associated with the time spent by fathers of children under 12 in performing housework/childcare. As several of these factors cannot be altered by the fathers’ efforts alone, companies and society in general must endeavor to improve work styles to better suit the habits and preferences of fathers.
This will promote work–life balance and create better family relationships..
14. Kanako Hisa, Megumi Haruna, Naoko Hikita, Emi Sasagawa, Kaori Yonezawa, Maiko Suto, Erika Ota, Prevalence of and factors related to anemia among Japanese adult women: Secondary data analysis using health check-up database., Scientific reports, 10.1038/s41598-019-52798-y, 9, 1, 17048-17048, 2019.11, The issue of anemia is important in terms of a woman's preconception health. This study aimed to conduct an exploratory investigation of the prevalence of and factors related to anemia in non-pregnant Japanese women. Secondary data analysis was conducted using a database of women aged 20-49 years old who had attended an annual health check-up at a hospital in Tokyo (n = 10,598). A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to anemia in two age groups: women aged 34 and under and those aged 35 and over. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin concentration levels
15. Naoko Hikita, Megumi Haruna, Massayo Matsuzaki, Emi Sasagawa, Minoru Murata, Ariunaa Yura, Otgontogoo Oidovsuren, Is High Maternal Body Mass Index Associated with Cesarean Section Delivery in Mongolia? A Prospective Observational Study, Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal, 10.31372/20190403.1056, 4, 3, 128-134, 2019.09, More than half of women are reported to be overweight or obese in Mongolia, thus becoming a big health issue. Though maternal obesity is a known risk factor for cesarean section (CS), it remains unclear how much a high maternal body mass index (BMI) would influence the risk of CS among pregnant women in Mongolia. This study aimed to investigate whether a higher maternal BMI is related to CS delivery in Darkhan-Uul Province, Mongolia. Pregnant women at 20 weeks' gestation or less who visited public health facilities for antenatal health checkups between November 2015 and January 2016 were recruited. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, body weight measurement, and medical records. In total, 508 pregnant women participated, and data from 336 women were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that higher maternal BMI at first antenatal care visit (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.102, p = .033), higher gestational weight gain (AOR = 1.111, p = .001), older maternal age (AOR = 1.076, p = .030), and gestational age at delivery (AOR = 0.765, p = .005) were associated with CS delivery. This study is the first to demonstrate that higher maternal BMI and higher gestational weight gain are associated with CS delivery in Mongolia. Moreover, older maternal age and lower gestational age at delivery were found to be associated with CS delivery. Preventing obesity among women is important not only from the viewpoint of prevention of lifestyle diseases but also from the obstetric point of view; it is important for medical personnel to communicate the importance of preventing obesity to all women in Mongolia..
16. Naoko Hikita, Megumi Haruna, Emi Sasagawa, Minoru Murata, Ariunaa Yura, Otgontogoo Oidovsuren, Comparison of knowledge about smoking and passive smoking and urinary cotinine levels in pregnant women and their partners in Mongolia: A cross-sectional study, Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal, 10.31372/20190401.1032, 4, 1, 47-56, 2019.04, This study aimed to compare knowledge about smoking, including passive smoking, and urinary cotinine (UC) levels in pregnant women and their partners in Mongolia. The study was conducted between November 2015 and January 2016 in Darkhan-Uul Province, Mongolia. Pregnant women with less than 20 weeks' gestation were recruited, and their partners were also invited to participate. Self-administered questionnaires and urine samples were used to collect data. Knowledge about smoking including passive smoking was measured using 14 questions. Data were analyzed using a Student's t-test, a chi-squared test, a one-way analysis of variance, and the Tukey-Kramer method for post-hoc analysis. Correlations were measured by computing Pearson's r or Spearman's ρ. A total of 508 pregnant women and 227 partners participated in this study; of these, 221 couples' data were analyzed. Pregnant women's scores on knowledge about smoking and passive smoking were significantly higher than those of their partners (9.4 ± 2.9 and 8.7 ± 3.1, respectively; p = 0.017). Pregnant women's and their partners' scores were slightly correlated (r = 0.163, p = 0.015). Pregnant women's and their partners' UC levels were significantly correlated (ρ = 0.250, p 
17. Hikita N, Haruna M, Matsuzaki M, Shiraishi M, Takehara K, Dagvadorj A, Sumya N, Bavuusuren B, Baljinnyam P, Ota E, Mori R, Utilisation of maternal and child health handbook in Mongolia: A cross-sectional study. , Health Education Journal, https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896917753649, 77, 4, 458-469, 2018.02.
18. Sachiko Kita, Megumi Haruna, Naoko Hikita, Masayo Matsuzaki, Kiyoko Kamibeppu, Development of the Japanese version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool-Short, NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, 10.1111/nhs.12298, 19, 1, 35-43, 2017.03, This study develops a Japanese version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool, comprising two simple questions, to examine its accuracy and validity. A cohort study involving women in the third trimester of pregnancy and one month after childbirth was conducted in an antenatal clinic in a Tokyo suburb. The Japanese versions of the Index of Spouse Abuse and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to examine the cut-off point, accuracy, and validity of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool. Results showed that the tool demonstrated good accuracy (sensitivity 66.7-71.4%, specificity 89.7%), using an alternative cut-off point (i.e. responses of "some tension" or "some difficulty" [2 points] for one item and "a lot of tension" or "great difficulty" [1 point] for the other), and good concurrent, convergent, and predictive validity. The results indicated that the Woman Abuse Screening Tool could be useful in Japanese perinatal health settings, as an initial screening tool to detect intimate partner violence efficiently and effectively during pregnancy..
19. Naoko Hikita, Megumi Haruna, Masayo Matsuzaki, Emi Sasagawa, Minoru Murata, Otgontogoo Oidovsuren, Ariunaa Yura, Prevalence and risk factors of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among pregnant women in Mongolia, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 10.1038/s41598-017-16643-4, 7, 1, 16426, 2017.11, This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of smoking and secondhand smoking (SHS) among pregnant women in Darkhan-Uul Province, Mongolia, using urinary cotinine (UC) levels, and clarified the factors related to SHS exposure. It targeted pregnant women who underwent antenatal health check-ups from November 2015 to January 2016. Self-administered questionnaires and urine samples were used to collect data. Using UC levels as the criterion, it was found that the prevalence of smokers (>100 ng/ml) among 493 pregnant women was 11.8%, while SHS exposure (>= 5 ng/ml) among nonsmokers was 44.8%. Older and highly educated women had lower odds of SHS exposure (p = 0.006 and 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, nonsmoking pregnant women from homes where smoking was permitted had higher odds of SHS exposure compared to women from homes where smoking was not permitted. These results suggest that community guidance programs, such as home smoking cessation that include families, are necessary..
20. Amarjargal Dagvadorj, Erika Ota, Sadequa Shahrook, Purevdorj Baljinnyam Olkhanud, Kenji Takehara, Naoko Hikita, Bayasgalantai Bavuusuren, Rintaro Mori, Takeo Nakayama, Hospitalization risk factors for children's lower respiratory tract infection: A population-based, cross-sectional study in Mongolia, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 10.1038/srep24615, 6, 6, 24615, 2016.04, This study aimed to assess the potential risk factors for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)-related hospital admissions in Mongolian children. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural Mongolia in 2013, and 1,013 mother-child pairs were included. Of the participating children, 38.9% were admitted to hospital with LRTIs. Home smoking, low birthweight, being a male child, exclusive breastfeeding and healthcare-seeking behaviour showed substantial association with LRTI-related hospital admissions. Number of cigarettes smoked by family members showed a dose-response relationship and increased hospital admissions. Strategies to prevent second-hand-smoke exposure from adult smokers, especially inside the home, are crucial to preventing LRTI-related hospital admissions for children in Mongolia. Improving rates of exclusive breastfeeding and increasing birthweight have great potential to decrease the likelihood of children acquiring a LRTI. Educational initiatives are also necessary for women who are less likely to seek out care for their children's symptoms..
21. Kenji Takehara, Amarjargal Dagvadorj, Naoko Hikita, Narantuya Sumya, Solongo Ganhuyag, Bayasgalantai Bavuusuren, Erika Ota, Megumi Haruna, Mikako Yoshida, Sachiko Kita, Hisashi Noma, Rintaro Mori, Maternal and Child Health in Mongolia at 3 Years After Childbirth: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL, 10.1007/s10995-015-1893-9, 20, 5, 1072-1081, 2016.05, Objectives In recent years Mongolia has made great advances towards Millennium Development Goals to reduce maternal and child mortality, however few studies have investigated maternal and child health status several years after childbirth. Our study aims to describe priority health issues in maternal and child health in Mongolia 3 years after childbirth, and key areas requiring further health policy development. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Bulgan province, Mongolia. Participants were women who gave birth in 2010 and lived in Bulgan in 2013, and their children who were almost 3 years of age. Data was collected using structured interviews, self-administered questionnaires, transcribed records from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, anthropometric measurements, and a developmental assessment tool. Results Data was obtained from 1,019 women and 1,013 children (recovery rate: 94.1 %). Among women, 171 (17.2 %) were obese and had an average body mass index (BMI) of 25.7, 40 (4.4 %) experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and 356 (36.2 %) reported urinary incontinence in the past month. Among children, 110 (10.8 %) were assessed as at risk of developmental delay, 131 (13.1 %) were overweight or obese, burns accounted for the highest number of serious accidents at 173 (17.0 %) while lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) were the most frequent cause of pediatric hospitalization. Conclusions for Practice Further development in health policy is required in Mongolia to target the significant health challenges of obesity, IPV, and urinary incontinence in women, and obesity, development delay, burns, and LRTIs in children..
22. Sachiko Kita, Mariko Minatani, Naoko Hikita, Masayo Matsuzaki, Mie Shiraishi, Megumi Haruna, A Systematic Review of the Physical, Mental, Social, and Economic Problems of Immigrant Women in the Perinatal Period in Japan, JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY HEALTH, 10.1007/s10903-015-0192-2, 17, 6, 1863-1881, 2015.12, 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..