A Study on the Actual Condition of Birth Centers in Urban Areas

Abstract

This study aims to survey birth centers in Tokyo and Osaka, and to understand the actual condition of those centers. 1) Room styles are different depending on when the birth center was established and age of the midwife. 2) Most of birth centers have both delivery room and examination room. 3) Recently, the number of midwives who open their small birth centers increases. 4) There are two main reasons that midwives establish their birth centers. 5) The birth center is a birthing facility specialized in natural delivery, maternal, child health and the policy of each birth center has some effects of the midwife's age and social environment.