A medical anthropological discussion of 'Women's Body Not-Oriented to Reproduction':

Purpose<br> Focusing on the views on reproduction and women's bodies of women with a passive attitude toward bearing children, whose numbers are already high as of 2014 and are expected to increase in the future, the present study aims to reveal the views of these women based on their own narratives. Then, based on our findings about their views, the method of implementation of health support for such women is discussed.<br>Methods<br> A qualitative descriptive research design based on an interview survey was employed. The subjects consisted of 29 women in their 30s to 80s. Note that 16 women in their 30s and 40s, who were in the reproductive period of their lives, were the main focus of the present study, and we intentionally selected women with a passive or negative attitude toward bearing children, so that the characteristic aspects of such women, whose numbers are expected to continue to increase in the future, could be highlighted.<br> The survey focused on the following items: (1) numbers of children and grandchildren desired, and their satisfaction levels with these numbers; (2) menstrual history, and a body associated with menarche and menopause; (3) health-care behaviors; (4) experiences associated with (1) to (3), reasons for the attitudes associated with (1) to (3), and relationships with people around; (5) experiences and events which may be reflected on the interviewee's view of reproduction, women's body, and health.<br>Results<br> The results of the survey confirmed the following characteristics in the subjects' narratives: <br>1. choice not to bear a child forms the basis for the view on women's bodies that harms and makes light of the reproductive ability of their own bodies; 2. idea that menstruation gives no benefit; and 3. there is no information available on the biological features of women's bodies, especially about the physical risks.<br> These results revealed that the subjects' views on reproduction and women's bodies are in a phase of "women's body non-oriented to reproduction," as well as 4 challenges and 2 strengths, mentioned below, inherent in the "women's body non-oriented to reproduction."<br>Conclusion<br> The results suggested that nursing support based on the 4 challenges and 2 strengths inherent in the "women's body non-oriented to reproduction" may be able to help maintain the health of the "women's body non-oriented to reproduction" at some level.<br> The challenges included: 1. abandonment of the reproduction-related qualities of their bodies; 2. closed reproduction that is treated exclusively in the context of personal problems; <br>3. lifestyle that accepts negligence of reproduction and treats their own bodies as if they are reproductive; and 4. "women's body non-oriented to reproduction" that values bodies with no gender or neutral gender.<br> The strengths were: 1. sufficient motivation and desire for maintaining good health for the coming old age; and 2. holistic views on body and health, such as the view that nature's balance maintains the health of women's bodies.