title: Japanese women's experiences of pharmacological pain relief in New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Japan, most women manage labour pain without pharmacological interventions. However, New Zealand statistics show a high percentage of epidural use amongst Asian women. Entonox (a gas mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen) and pethidine are also available to women in New Zealand. This article investigates how Japanese women in New Zealand respond to the use of pharmacological pain relief in labour.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was guided by two research questions: (1) How do Japanese women experience and manage labour pain in New Zealand? (2) How do they feel about the use of pharmacological pain relief?
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen Japanese women who had given birth in New Zealand were interviewed individually or in a focus group. The conversations were analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although in Japan very few women use pain relief, nine women received epidural and/or Entonox out of 11 women who experienced labour pain. The contrast between their Japanese cultural expectations and their birth experiences caused some of the women subsequent personal conflict.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Japanese women's cultural perspectives and passive attitudes were demonstrated to influence the decision-making process concerning pain relief. It was concluded that understanding Japanese cultural worldviews and approaches to the role of pain in labour would help maternity providers in their provision of appropriate care for Japanese women.
authors.affiliation: School of Midwifery, Te Kura atawhai ka Kaiakopono te Hakuitaka, Otago Polytechnic, Te Kura Matatini ki Otago, New Zealand. Electronic address: mwkeiko@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doering
authors.affiliation: School of Midwifery, Te Kura atawhai ka Kaiakopono te Hakuitaka, Otago Polytechnic, Te Kura Matatini ki Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: School of Midwifery, Te Kura atawhai ka Kaiakopono te Hakuitaka, Otago Polytechnic, Te Kura Matatini ki Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D008880:Midwifery; D009520:New Zealand; D036801:Parturition / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Childbirth; Japanese; Midwifery; New Zealand; Pain relief