Presentation Title: “Results of qualitative research on confidential birth in Japanese university students Should we increase the number of hospitals offering a confidential birth system in Japan?”

Abstract:

In recent years child abandonment and infanticide are very serious and pending problems. One of the solutions to this problem can be the system of confidential birth, where the mother can give birth confidentially in the hospital. This system is currently available only in one hospital in Japan, Kumamoto Jikei Hospital (it enables anonymous access to medical facilities; however, mothers still must disclose their personal information to a counselor, and the information will be sealed in a special envelope). The aim of this presentation is to analyze the data collected from qualitative research conducted on a group of students in Japan (Hokkaido University). In this research, two methods were used. The first one was the anonymous online questionnaire and the second method was the face-to-face group discussion. In both groups, students were asked, “Should we increase the number of hospitals offering confidential birth in Japan? Explain the reason for your answer.” Additionally, students who participated in face-to-face discussions were asked to evaluate the merits and demerits of confidential birth. The quantitative result of the online study shows that 44% of respondents support (11% strongly support, 33% support) the idea of increasing facilities with confidential birth in Japan. 33% are not sure (need more explanation) and 11% are against this system. The results of the qualitative part of the study show the following categories of reasons for supporting confidential birth:

1. Remedy for unwanted pregnancy” 2) “Save a baby and a mother from the difficult situation when pregnancy and childbirth become known to others”; 3) increase the options both for the mother and the baby, 4) maximizes possible benefits and minimizes possible harms;5) prioritizing the healthy growth of the newborn.” The opinions against confidential birth stressed: 1) risk of unnecessarily throwing away the responsibility of being a parent 2) the baby has a right to know its origin 3) the person using this system doesn’t think about the baby; 4) after using this system, anxiety remains in the baby 5) in the future the baby may be the object of teasing, discrimination of persecution. On the contrary, in the face-to-face discussion in a small group (8 people) regarding the merits of confidential birth all of the participants supported the idea using the following arguments: 1) “It balances mothers’ right to autonomous choice and confidentiality and babies’ right to live and to know its origin; 2) equal access to medical care 3) option against abortion However, the members of the discussion group were aware of the disadvantage that “babies might have some mental distress and future identity-related problems, due to the knowledge of being abandoned by biological mother.” The results of this research show a strong interest in confidential birth and indicate that “it is better to have this option available for the sake of both the child and the mother.” Therefore, this research serves as a starting point for the public discussion on increasing the number of hospitals with confidential birth in Japan.