• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.31-53
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• 2015

This study analyzed the factors having an influence on married woman's childbirth abandonment based on the 2011 materials (the 4th year) of PSKC (Panel Study on Korean Children), KICCE (Korea Institute of Child Care and Education). The analysis showed a few results. First, 'educational expenses for children' and 'physical hardship' were the factors having a major influence on the abandonment of another childbirth. Second, there was some difference in the reason for the abandonment of another childbirth according to the current number of children. That is, women with one child gave up another childbirth because of 'hardship to juggle child-care and work', while women with two children showed 'child-care costs' as a more important reason for the abandonment of childbirth. Third, 'age' and 'instrumental value of children' also had an influence on the abandonment of childbirth. Fourth, there was some difference in the factors having an influence on childbirth abandonment according to the current number of children. The research found that the community child-care environment such as 'leisure and cultural facilities' influenced the women with one child, and maternal psychological factor such as 'marital conflicts' influenced the women with two children in their abandonment of another childbirth.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.261-268
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• 2024

This study focused on social connection apps and support among various measures to prevent 'killing and abandonment of infants', which has recently become a social issue. The research method attempted to show the necessity of a social-linked app by analyzing the contents of 12 cases with peculiarities in the infant murder process in the judgment after 2021. Infanticide mothers were found to be economically and socially vulnerable, and they killed infants to continue their lives. Focusing on the mind of human respect rather than the judicial meaning of punishing crime, the development of social connection apps and support services that allow both mothers and infants to be healthy and socially protected were proposed. The first is a great transformation of economic support and awareness for pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Second, it is necessary to develop a confidentiality counseling and information app that can comprehensively support medical directions and social welfare in consideration of the health status of the fetus and women and the socio-economic situation. Third, it is proposed to promote the use of the Internet such as joint childcare facilities of social communities, child protection institutions, and adoption systems. The government should investigate the reasons for not being able to register birth, the root causes of killing and abandonment of infants, and come up with practical plans and policies for them.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2024

This paper discusses the implications of the birth notification system and the Protected Birth Act in Korea. Aiming to prevent infanticide and abandonment of infants, the law will enter into force on July 19, 2024 in South Korea. The birth notification system mandates that both parents and the head of the medical institution where the birth occurred must report the event. In parallel, the Protected Birth Act will be implemented, allowing pregnant women in crisis who wish to remain anonymous, the option to give birth outside of a hospital setting in a way that safeguards the life and health of the child. However, many issues are being raised in Korean society in advance of the implementation of the Protected Birth Act. There is widespread concern that the Protected Birth Act fails to protect either women or children, especially as it raises issues regarding the need for legislation to protect children with disabilities and to address gaps for migrant women and children. This paper examines the gender and healthcare issues relating to the Protected Birth Act, focusing on women's health and human rights. The Act continues to perpetuate discrimination against out-of-wedlock pregnancies and upholds the ideology of the traditional family model. Furthermore, the legislative process did not address protective measures for the various reasons behind child abandonment. Critical issues such as women's autonomy, safe pregnancy termination, and paternal responsibility in childbirth are also notably absent. However, with the Act set to take effect soon, it is crucial for healthcare providers to comprehend the rationale and procedures associated with birth notification and the Protected Birth Act, and to prepare for its nationwide implementation. The law defines the socially vulnerable as its main beneficiaries, and it is necessary to strengthen social safety nets to improve their access to healthcare, eliminate prejudice and discrimination against out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and embrace the diversity of our society. We eagerly anticipate future discussions on gender and healthcare issues, as well as amendments to the law that reflect real-world circumstances to provide genuine protection for pregnant women in crisis and their infants.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.799-812
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• 2000

This study adopts the phenomenological approach in order to explore the experience of urinary felt by the small island women and to find the meaning and structure of their experience, for the further understanding of them. This study succeeded in detecting five topics and three basic structure from eight participants, and followings are the comprehensive statement of them. The five topics include neglect of care after childbirth, unavoidable life in the tidal flat, shame which cannot be expressed even to their husbands, endless anxiety toward the expected future, and sad(dilemmatic) lived experience. The basic structure is that small island women who have urinary incontinence are apt to regard their disease as a natural destiny of women who fail to get adequate care after childbirth, and something to be endured to live in the seashore. They think of urinary incontinence as something so shameful that they cannot reveal it even to their husband and family. They believe that it even changes their personality since they must always stay alert in order to cope with the situation; for example, when it takes place unexpectedly, like too often to go to toilet, to change the underwears, to wake up in the middle of the night to go to toilet, to try not to laugh loudly, or to have showers. In addition, they accept it as a natural process of aging and incurable disease, and they consider themselves already ruined on the way of becoming uglier. They show dilemmatic abandonment: give it up unwillingly but at the same time think it is natural for others too. The unique experience of small island women with urinary incontinence implied in those statement are inseparable with the specific conditions for survival in the island. Unlike other diseases, it is considered the result of traditionally poor care after childbirth. However this misunderstanding that it is a natural phenomena for all the women who experience childbirth and aging and thereby incurable leads to an undesirable attitude toward urinary incontinence. According to the analysis, environmental conditions specific for small islands make the women there have distinct and unique experience concerned with urinary incontinence. Consequently, the future nursing plan for urinary incontinence in the small island area must be made and enforced with the consideration of these specific phenomenological meanings. Modern Korean nursing has basically been centered to hospital or urban areas. Besides, nursing intervention has long depended upon the research of western countries. This research, however, shows how greatly the regional and cultural characteristics influence the understanding of a certain disease, and is expected to make more specific and in-depth nursing approach enable for those who have urinary incontinence in small islands.