2020 Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 32-41
Purpose: To reveal the activities and issues of nursing interventions targeting parents at parents at high risk of committing child abuse in low-income households. To examine the ways municipal public health nurses (PHNs) work in supporting pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing, as well as preventing child abuse.
Method: Using a qualitative and descriptive research design, research subjects were selected by PHNs who have achieved success in nursing interventions for the poor with infants. We asked nine PHNs in management roles, with the number of welfare recipients in the top ten municipalities to select research subject candidates. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews.
Results: We analyzed nine cases from PHNs. Nine issues were identified regarding nursing intervention for the poor with infants, whereas 25 nursing activities were classified. Categories included “a possibility of children’s development being hindered because of lack of money for childrearing” and “outreach to households in need of support based on information from counselors for self-reliance projects for the poor.”
Discussion: “Financial difficulty” is the primary factor for support and often comes with “low health management ability during pregnancy and low childcare ability,” “low capacity of leading a normal life,” and “lack of transportation.” Improper childcare occurs when these factors come together. Furthermore, PHNs need to evaluate whether other factors overlap with one another or not, as well as evaluate financial difficulties and decide on necessary support. PHNs must actively grasp whether there are any financial difficulties behind the childcare problem.
