Facilitators and barriers in the humanization of childbirth practice in Japan

Table 4 Barriers and Facilitators in Humanized Childbirth

Characteristics Presence of characteristic: + Absence of characteristic:-	1st level hospital	2nd level hospitals	3th level hospitals	4th level hospitals	Birthing home
1. Rule and Regulation
- Prevention from having a companion in postpartum	-	-	+	+	-
- Prevention from having a companion in operation room	-	+	+	+	NA
- Banning of children from the mother's rooms	+	+	+	+/-	-
- The restriction in the number of companions allowed during labor or delivery	+	+	+	+	-
- Conditional acceptance of the father as a companion	+	+	+	+	+
2. Physical Structure
- Common Labour and delivery room	+	-	-	+/-	-
- Common postpartum room	+	+	+	+	-
3. Contingence Factor
	+	+	+	+	NA
- University-affiliated hospitals
- The lack of midwifery authority	+	+	+	+	+
	+	+	+	+	+
- Mal practice litigation
	+	+	+	+	NA
- Physicians' training and medical skill	+	+	+	+	-
- Overcharge of work for care providers	+	+	+	+	-
- The workplace demand on Japanese men	General condition	General condition	General condition	General condition	General condition
4. Individual Factors
- Lack of decision-making by women in hospitals	+	+	+	+	-
Facilitators in Humanized birth
1. Rules and Regulation
- Preventing unnecessary medical intervention
- Natural methods for relieving pain	+	+	+	+	+
- Getting the women's consent	+	+	+	+	+
- Long stay in birth setting	+	+	+	+	+
	+	+	+	+	+
2. Physical Structure
- LDR room and other facilities	-	+	+	+/-	+
3. Contingence Factor
- Midwifery system	+	+	+	+	+
- Private and public health care system	+	+	+	+	+
4. Individual Factors
- Women's culture, values and beliefs in natural birth	+	+	+	+	+

ISSN: 1471-2393