Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study is to clarify the actual state of health support for children in protected households and their caregivers conducted by public health nurses engaged in the public assistance recipients healthcare management support program at welfare offices.
Methods: We conducted interviews with five public health nurses engaged in the public assistance recipients healthcare management support program about the health support for children and their caregivers in the public assistance recipients healthcare management support program, and analyzed the actual situation of the public assistance recipients healthcare management support program qualitatively and inductively.
Results: The public health nurses recognized that the current situation of protected households raising children was “unstable economic foundation” and “loss of family functions in child-rearing”, and that children were “unable to think about the future” and “had little interaction with adults”. The actual support for children and caregivers in the Protected Persons Health Management Support Program was “support for both children and parents,” “development of children’s ability to live,” “responding to changes in needs as they grow,” and “supporting children now.” Regarding the actual welfare office’s public assistance recipients healthcare management support program, it was stated that “the support for children in the public assistance recipients healthcare management support program is insufficient” and the importance of “coordinating to support the growth and development of children”. In addition, as a lesson from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, there was the “importance of face-to-face information acquisition and services,” and the “ingenuity of continuing even if there are obstacles”.
Conclusions: From the testimony of public health nurses in the public assistance recipients healthcare management support program for children and their caregivers was to adjust the economic base, support basic lifestyle arrangements for children to live independently, and support for creating connections with society in order to have a stable life based on the actual situation of the child. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, We learned the importance of continuing to provide face-to-face support and devise ways to provide support. It was suggested that the challenges were insufficient cooperation with boards of education and schools, lack of social resources, and support for households that could not participate in support programs.
