Peer-reviewed article
Factors Associated With Midwives' Perceived Difficulty in Supporting Couples With Older First-Time Mothers by Workplace Type in Japan.
Kinoshita C, Tamaue M ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed study surveyed 922 midwives in Japan about their perceived difficulty in supporting older first-time mothers and their couples. The research found that midwives working in hospitals and clinics reported greater difficulty than those in midwifery centers, and that less experienced midwives and those without certain organizational supports faced more challenges. The study recommends strengthening organizational systems and education to better support midwives in this work.
Key points
- Midwives in perinatal medical centers, general hospitals, and clinics reported significantly greater perceived difficulty in providing child-rearing support compared to those in midwifery centers
- Midwives with fewer than 10 years of experience reported greater difficulty than those with 30 or more years of experience
- Perceived difficulty in providing different types of support (instrumental, informational, emotional, appraisal) varied by workplace setting
- Availability of postpartum outreach and day-care services was associated with reduced perceived difficulty
- CLoCMiP Level III certification was associated with perceived difficulty in providing support
Limitations
This study measures midwives' perceptions of difficulty rather than actual outcomes for mothers or children, so it cannot tell us whether perceived difficulty translates to worse health or development outcomes. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causation.
Abstract
Aim This study aimed to examine differences in midwives' perceived difficulty in providing child-rearing and social support to couples with older first-time mothers according to the workplace setting, and to identify contributing individual and organizational factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among midwives working at medical institutions and midwifery centers across Japan who had supported couples with older first-time mothers within the previous year. Data on individual characteristics, workplace characteristics, perceived difficulty in providing child-rearing support, and perceived difficulty in providing social support were collected using online or anonymous self-administered questionnaires. Workplace settings were categorized into four types: perinatal medical centers, general hospitals, clinics, and midwifery centers. Logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results A total of 922 midwives were included. Compared with midwives working in midwifery centers, those working in perinatal medical centers (odds ratio [OR] = 2.71), general hospitals (OR = 2.67), and clinics (OR = 1.94) reported significantly greater perceived difficulty in providing child-rearing support. Midwives with fewer than 10 years' experience also reported greater difficulty than those with 30 or more years' experience. Perceived difficulty in providing instrumental, informational, emotional, and appraisal support was associated with workplace setting. Additional associations were observed with CLoCMiP Level III certification and the availability of postpartum outreach and day-care services. Conclusions Midwives' perceived difficulty differed according to workplace setting and was associated with both individual and organizational factors. Strengthening organizational support systems and educational opportunities may help reduce perceived difficulty in supporting couples with older first-time mothers.