Abstract

In Japan, traditional gender roles dictate that husbands return to work immediately after the birth of a child, while wives take on childcare and household responsibilities. However, with increasing numbers of women pursuing careers after marriage, many experience an intensified burden, juggling work and domestic duties, which can lead to feelings of inequity with their husbands. Although Japan boasts a well-developed child-rearing support system, with midwives and public health nurses providing ongoing support to new parents, these professionals often find that the dynamics between husbands and wives significantly impact childcare. This study aimed to investigate feelings of equity and inequity among spouses following the birth of their first child, focusing on the fair distribution of roles rather than equal distribution. A qualitative approach was employed; using semi-structured interviews with 11 married couples who remained together after the birth of their child. Qualitative descriptive analyses revealed that equity was categorized into four themes and ten subthemes, while inequity comprised five themes and 12 subthemes. The findings indicate that Japanese husbands and wives perceive equity based on their partner's time management, childcare and household skills, financial stability, and communication skills. To promote healthier relationships and more equitable distributions of childcare responsibilities, midwives and public health nurses should encourage active communication between couples and develop teaching methods that facilitate husbands' acquisition of child-rearing skills. Furthermore, it is essential to establish indicators that enable midwives and public health nurses to rapidly assess the dynamics between couples and consider educational programs to support these professionals.

Key words: Equity, inequity, first child, married couples, semi-structured interviews, qualitative research.