地域に密着した開業助産師の活動(第1報) : 出雲市の開業助産師の足跡を訊ねて  [in Japanese] A Comparison of the Historical and Modern Practice of Midwives in IZUMO City  [in Japanese]

お産が家庭でされていた頃は,開業助産師が活躍し,町や村では「産婆さん」と呼ばれ,その存在は高く評価されてきた。しかし病院や診療所での分娩が増加するにつれ,助産師の存在が希薄になっている。母子保健に関する現況の問題を打開する為に,活躍された産婆の生き方を通して,今,助産師に,何が要求されているかを,出雲市の開業助産師の足跡や活動から検討した。同時に先人達が如何に助産師の職務を遂行し,地域社会に貢献したかを振り返った。結果,今も助産師は生活に密着し,家庭のなかの出来事に地道に関わる活動が重要であり,また,いかに求められているかの示唆を得た。

In older the times, when women often delivered children at home, a midwife was familiarly called a nickname such as SANBA and her professional achievement was highly respected. But as the number of childbirths increased in medical clinics and hospitals, midwife activity became inconspicuous. I thought it important to trace the historical activities and achievements of midwives and then to compare those with modern midwife activities. My investigation was carried out in Izumo City. I found three stone monuments honoring the great contribution of midwives to delivery and child care in their communities. And midwives who had practiced for many years in small, remote towns told stories from their work. The principal part of a midwife's job is to deal with birth. This work has remained unchanged. But, a midwife today is much more involved in household affairs than in past. She should have a closer relationship with the client's household and provide increased community-based support.