Addressing “Kireme” (Interruption Situation) in Maternal and Child Healthcare by Public Health Nurses: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the concept of “Kireme,” an interruption situation addressed by public health nurses in maternal and child healthcare.

Methods: The study involved public health nurses and related professionals from eight municipalities recognized as pioneers in maternal and child health initiatives. We conducted online group interviews, transcribed the data verbatim, and employed qualitative descriptive methods for analysis.

Results: The following “Kireme” were extracted based on analysis: “Kireme from the issuance of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook to the postnatal period”; “Kireme from infancy to pre- and post-school”; “Kireme at the point of moving in and out”; “Kireme of individual support relationships”; “Kireme in the community support network”; and “Kireme of the system within the organization.”

Discussion: The study revealed that the “Kireme” situations addressed by public health nurses encompass the “Kireme of time” along the temporal axis and the “Kireme of aspects” within the local resources available to residents. These “Kireme” situations manifest in diverse combinations. In the future, there is a need to clarify the art of public health nursing further to bridge these “Kireme” gaps in maternal and child healthcare.