Home > Midwifery in Japan > Maternal and Child Health
Japanese maternal and child health care systems are regulated by the Maternal and Child Health Division of the Children and Families Bureau at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Maternal and child health projects are planned and conducted in accordance with the Maternal & Child Health Law (established 1965, revised 1994).
Related laws include the Child Welfare Law, the Labor Standards Law, and the Maternal Protection Law.
Maternal and child health projects are carried out primarily by the prefectural governments and local health centers.
| Prefectural governments (Public Health Centers) | Local Municipalities |
|---|---|
Coordination, guidance, and advice for local municipalities Specialized services
|
Basic services
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A midwife's home visit after childbirth
Principles of Maternal and Child Health Care in the Maternal and Child Health Law
- Maternity is to be respected and protected as the basis of normal childbirth, healthy development, and appropriate child care.
- Mothers and guardians of infants should make every effort to understand the importance of maternal and child health care in the promotion of their health.
Main Maternal and Child Health Policies
[ The aim of the policies is to implement comprehensive maternal and child health care on the basis of a consistent system covering premarital preparation, pregnancy, childbirth, and the neonatal and infant periods. ]
[ Major Maternal and Child Health Policies ( National Hygiene Trends, 2004 ) ] (PDF 16KB)
[ Maternal and Child Health Handbook ]
The Maternal and Child Health Handbook originated from the Maternal Handbook first issued in 1942, which established a system of pregnancy registration and provided pregnant and postpartum women with medical support. Following two revisions of this handbook, the present form of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook was completed, and has served as an aid in the recording and monitoring of maternal and child health and growth. The Handbooks are issued to pregnant women upon application to their local government.
The Handbook functions as a maternal and infant health record that can be used to follow the development process, thereby contributing to consistent management, promotion and maintenance of maternal and child health throughout pregnancy, delivery, birth, and development. Conscientious parents effectively utilize this handbook to increase their awareness of their role. In addition, the Handbook is available in a number of foreign languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Indonesian, Portuguese, Thai, and Tagalog) for foreigners residing in Japan and for Japanese residing overseas. The Handbook is also available in Braille.
[ Maternal and Child Health Plans through 2010 ]
Healthy Parents and Children 21: A national campaign has been launched through the combined efforts of related organizations and groups working toward the common goals of systematizing outstanding and new issues and guiding maternal and child health care on its pathway for the 21st century.
[ Children and Child-rearing Supporting Plan ]
This plan aims at realizing "the society which facilitates the healthy growth of children" and "the society where people may find joy in child-bearing and child-rearing". Emphasizing these points, the governments, both national and local, are to provide five-year programs, looking forward to their outcome evaluation to be executed ten years after.
[ CNext Generation Supporting Program ]
The national government, local governments and employers are required to set up the comprehensive programs to facilitate the growth of the next generations according to the four pillars described below:
- Adjust the working styles of both men and women
- Facilitate the community support for the child-rearing
- Facilitate the support for the next generation in the Social Security Program
- Strengthen the children's social adaptation and independence
[ Development of a Foundation for Maternal and Child Health Care ]
- Development of a foundation to assist local municipalities' activities and increase awareness of maternal and child health care Promotion of community activities related to maternal and child health care development
- Family planning and adolescent health care Family planning counseling, birth control guidance, genetic counseling, and adolescent clinics
- Lifelong health promotion for women Health education and counseling at women's centers and public health centers
- Measures to combat sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Promotion of the breast-feeding
- Prevention of accidents involving infants and children
- Promotion of folic acid intake
Compiled by the Mothers' and Children's Health and Welfare Association (Fiscal 2001)
[ Other Policies Concerning Mother and Child Health ]
- DV prevention
- Child abuse prevention
- Mutual support and collaboration for the child-rearing