Characteristics of image of the childbirth held by women in their twenties

Purpose<br>The purpose of this study was to make clear the images women in their twenties have of childbirth through interviews of said women.<br>Methods<br>Unstructured interviews were conducted with 33 unmarried women residing within the Kanto region between the ages of 20 to 29 who had not experienced childbirth and data was collected. The resulting data was inductively analyzed, the core category of each participant was pattern coded, and characteristics of the images of childbirth were found.<br>Results<br>Ten characteristics that indicated the images of childbirth held by women in their twenties were extracted: 1) Most of the study participants held both "positive images" and "negative images" toward childbirth; 2) Almost all of the study participants have a wide range of images of childbirth; 3) A very select few participants held either only "positive images" or "negative images."; 4) Approximately half did not have concrete images of what it would be like for them to experience childbirth; 5) Although over four out of ten participants held images of childbirth as something "painful," this view was not tied to feelings of avoidance of childbirth; 6) The "gendered image" of childbirth was divided into two groups ? one which believed childbirth is desirable for women and one which did not; 7) The "temporal image" of childbirth was divided into two groups ? one which was conscious of childbearing age and one which was aware of the timing of childbirth; 8) One in three study participants held images that the reconciliation of childbirth and work is difficult; 9) One in five study participants held images that childbirth makes one feel guilty; 10) In the "societal ideal image," discontent and expectation toward society was reflected.<br>Conclusion<br>Nearly all of the study participants combined positive and negative images of childbirth and attributed various significances to them, some of which were linked and others of which were diverse. Present behind the fact that approximately half of the participants did not have concrete images of what it would be like for the women themselves to experience childbirth were the following images: harsh employment conditions for women, inadequate family-centered measures in the workplace and community, the absence of role models reconciling work and childbirth, and inadequate education of both men and women regarding autonomously selecting the timing and method of birth. Addressing these problems was considered a pressing task in order to create an environment conducive to childbirth in Japanese society where the birth rate is low.