Utility of the rurality index for Japan for exploring good practice solutions for declining birthrates in rural areas.

Background: Japan is experiencing unprecedented decreasing birthrates. This preliminary study aimed to identify the municipalities in Aomori Prefecture that are successfully tacking declining birthrates using the Rurality Index for Japan (RIJ).

Methods: We obtained 100-level RIJ and census data from 1980 to 2020 for children (age < 15 years) in the municipal population of Aomori Prefecture.

Medical students' impression of a generalist in Japan: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite the increasing global demand, few medical students aspire to become generalists. To address this shortage, we investigated medical students' impressions of generalists in Japan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used a web-based questionnaire from a previous study.

Japanese primary care physicians' postpartum mental health care: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Postpartum mental health care is a public health priority requiring interprofessional and interorganizational collaboration. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have the potential to play an essential role in facilitating access to health care and providing comprehensive and coordinated care for postpartum mental health problems. In Japan, however, there are no previous studies on the extent to which PCPs are involved in postpartum mental health care.