Five-Year Evaluation of a Multilingual Website on Pregnancy and Parenting for Foreign Families in Japan

TL;DR

A multilingual website in Japan helped foreign families access maternal and child health information, showing high usage and satisfaction over five years.

Contribution

The study provides a five-year evaluation of a multilingual digital platform's impact on maternal and child health access for foreign families in Japan.

Findings

The website received 164,822 page views from users across all 47 prefectures in Japan.

User satisfaction surveys showed high usability ratings, with 39 respondents reporting positive experiences.

Inquiries revealed a need for expanded multilingual support and professional assistance.

Abstract

Background: Japan’s increasing population of foreign residents includes many of reproductive age who face barriers in accessing maternal and child healthcare, especially due to language and cultural differences.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the usage patterns, user satisfaction, and stakeholder engagement with a multilingual website (https://ecdsuishin.com) offering maternal and child health information to foreign-origin families in Japan.

Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted between April 2020 and March 2025. Website access data were analyzed using Google Analytics (Google LLC, Mountain View, USA). User satisfaction was assessed through a multilingual, anonymous web-based survey. Inquiries submitted via the website were qualitatively analyzed. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was used to guide study reporting.

Results: The website recorded 164,822 page views. The most frequently accessed languages were Japanese (n = 96,397, 59%), English (n = 24,872, 15%), and Easy Japanese (n = 9,658, 6%). Access was logged from 757 municipalities across all 47 prefectures. Survey respondents (n = 39) reported high satisfaction with usability. A total of 33 inquiries highlighted diverse needs for multilingual support and professional assistance.

Discussion: The findings support the role of multilingual digital platforms in improving health equity. Culturally and linguistically appropriate content supports both families and healthcare providers by reducing access barriers.

Conclusion: Multilingual, culturally responsive digital platforms play a crucial role in reducing barriers to maternal and child health information among foreign-origin families in Japan. Furthermore, to advance health equity and ensure inclusive access to healthcare, it will be necessary to expand the content of these platforms, conduct targeted outreach, and integrate them into broader health systems.

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