Home【Research Keywords】
Global Maternal and Child Health, Midwifery, Digital Health (mHealth), Implementation Science, People-Centered Care, Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care, Midwifery Workforce Development, Health Systems, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Adolescent Health, Global Research Collaboration, Africa and Asia
【Recent highlights】
Our laboratory conducts international collaborative research in Africa and Asia to strengthen health systems that enable women, children, and families to receive high-quality, continuous care. In Tanzania, we conduct implementation research using digital health (mHealth) to improve antenatal and midwifery care, with a particular focus on quality of care, women’s decision-making, and continuity of support. Our research has expanded to midwifery education and workforce development in Zambia, and to mHealth interventions for maternal and child nutrition and mental health in Bangladesh and other Asian settings. Across these projects, we apply perspectives from implementation science, People-Centered Care, and health systems research to translate evidence into practice.
【Major Papers of the Laboratory】
・Association between antenatal care service utilization and birth preparedness among Tanzanian pregnant women: A cross-sectional study Midwifery, 2026;155:104724.
・Effectiveness of a mobile cardiotocography device (iCTG) in improving antenatal care and detecting abnormal fetal heart rate during late pregnancy: an implementation study in Tanzania BMC Public Health, 2025.
・Impact of mobile health-based nutritional education on hemoglobin levels in anemic adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh: a randomized controlled trial BMC Public Health, 2025;25:2567.
・Effectiveness of Smart Mama application on postpartum depression, anxiety, and maternal-infant bonding among women during the postnatal period: a randomized controlled trial BMC Nursing, 2025;24:452.
・Prevalence and trends of coexisting forms of malnutrition and its associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in South and Southeast Asia, 1996–2022: a cross-sectional time series study BMC Public Health, 2025;25:2296.
【Education】
Our laboratory is grounded in maternal and child health and midwifery. Students learn to reflect on their own values and perspectives while exploring nursing practice and health systems that promote the health of people living in diverse cultural and social settings.
At the undergraduate level, students study global health issues, including the SDGs and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as well as health systems, maternal and child health, and health management in Japan and other countries. They also learn about care for people from diverse cultural backgrounds and international health activities. Opportunities to interact with international students and researchers help students develop the ability to understand different perspectives and collaborate across cultures.
At the graduate level, students have opportunities to participate in international collaborative research in Africa and Asia, focusing on areas such as maternal and child health, midwifery, People-Centered Care, digital health, implementation science, and health systems. Through quantitative and qualitative research, intervention studies, and implementation research, students learn to identify meaningful research questions and outcomes and to translate research findings into improvements in care and health systems, with the goal of becoming independent researchers.
【Research】
1. Improvement and implementation of maternal and child health and midwifery care through digital health
2. Research on People-Centered / Woman-Centered Care and quality of care
3. International collaborative research on midwifery education, workforce development, and health systems strengthening
4. mHealth interventions for maternal and child nutrition, mental health, and adolescent health
5. Implementation science and international comparative research on maternal and child health in Africa and Asia
Associate Professor Chen conducted training on the use of a mobile fetal heart rate monitor in Tanzania.
Post-doc fellow Jiaur and graduate students conducted preconception care education in Bangladesh.
Exchange activities with faculty members and students from the University of Zambia School of Nursing Sciences
Exchange with midwives from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Western Pacific Region
Members of our laboratory
