Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the in-depth perceptions of newborn care among North Korean refugee women through focus group interviews. This research aims to provide foundational data for developing newborn care education programs tailored for North Korean refugee women preparing for motherhood.
Methods This qualitative study employed focus groups to investigate perceptions of neonatal care among North Korean refugee women of childbearing age (20–45 years old). Conducted from August to September 2022, the sessions included five non-pregnant women and four who were currently pregnant.
Results Both pregnant and non-pregnant women expressed ambivalent feelings, characterized by a blend of expectation and fear regarding childrearing. Pregnant women articulated specific parenting strategies and viewed childrearing as a more tangible responsibility in light of physical changes and social isolation. In contrast, non-pregnant women expressed vague aversion and anxiety about the lack of information and support systems, stating that they could only endure childrearing with adequate external support. Notably, pregnant women emphasized the psychological conflict stemming from disrupted self-realization and shifts in their identities as mothers.
Conclusion This study revealed differences in childrearing perceptions among North Korean refugee women based on their pregnancy status. It underscores the necessity for developing customized education programs that consider life stages and psychological readiness, as well as the importance of establishing social support systems.
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Service design for improving pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare competency among North Korean refugee women in South Korea: a qualitative service-design study In-Sook Lee Child Health Nursing Research.2026; 32(1): 52. CrossRef
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of fatherhood among fathers of high-risk neonates and their confidence regarding neonatal care.
Methods A study was conducted of 100 fathers whose neonates had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for at least 48 hours. Perceptions of fatherhood, neonatal characteristics, and fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care were measured using a self-reported questionnaire. The survey took approximately 10 minutes to complete and was completed anonymously. The factors that affected fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care were analyzed using multiple regression.
Results The scores for positive and negative perceptions of fatherhood were relatively high at 4.27 and 3.42 out of 5 points, respectively. A positive perception of fatherhood was found to influence fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care.
Conclusion NICU nurses should encourage fathers to effectively perform their parenting roles by implementing educational programs and interventions to promote positive perceptions of fatherhood and fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care after discharge.
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Purpose North Korean refugee women struggle with the double burden of adaptation and parenting as mothers in a new environment. This study aimed to identify the knowledge, confidence, and educational needs regarding newborn care among North Korean refugees, and to determine differences between these variables according to participants' characteristics.
Methods Data were collected from September to October 2022, and 150 North Korean refugee women recruited using convenience sampling participated in the study. Descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were used for data analysis.
Results The mean scores were as follows: parenting knowledge, 14.97 out of 25; infection prevention knowledge and confidence, 20.09 out of 33 and 51.37 out of 80, respectively; and educational needs, 245.86 out of 310. Significant differences were observed in newborn care, knowledge, and confidence according to maternal age, educational level, family structure, and pregnancy history. Significant positive correlations were observed between the participants' newborn care knowledge, confidence, and educational needs.
Conclusion Personalized educational programs should be implemented to enhance North Korean refugee women's confidence in newborn care, focusing on areas with low knowledge levels and high educational needs and enabling women to achieve healthy pregnancy and childbirth, and to parent well.
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Purpose This study was conducted to investigate the educational needs for practicing neonatal intensive care among Korean nursing students.
Methods An explorative, sequential, mixed-methods design was used. Qualitative content analysis was conducted of in-depth interviews of six nursing students, five clinical practice faculty members, and five nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit. The results of a survey of 174 nursing students were analyzed quantitatively.
Results Nursing students, clinical practice faculty members, and nurses wanted opportunities for direct nursing practice and education in school during neonatal intensive care practice. In terms of specific educational content, nursing students expressed the highest observation-related educational needs for communication with medical team members, and they expressed the highest practice-related educational needs for operating medical equipment used for neonatal intensive care. The nursing students' needs with regard to the method of practice education were highest for orientation from the head nurses.
Conclusion Communication and operating medical equipment were found to be areas with high educational needs for practicing neonatal intensive care among Korean nursing students. Further research is needed to develop an educational framework and setting for practicing neonatal intensive care that would meet their needs.
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Purpose This study aimed to identify correlations between the status of the umbilical cord and neonatal health status.
Methods In total, 172 newborns were enrolled who were admitted to the newborn nursery with a gestational age of 35 weeks or older and a body weight of 2 kg or above. Data were collected on the basic personal information of the newborns, the diameter and soft tissue status of the umbilical cord, and neonatal health status after birth. Analyses were performed using t-test, analysis of variance, x2 test, and Fisher exact test.
Results Umbilical cord diameter exhibited a statistically significant difference by sex (t=2.71, p=.007). A thin umbilical cord diameter was associated with a 1-minute Apgar score less than 8 points (t=2.47, p=.015) and with being transferred to the intensive care unit (t=2.45, p=.015). Poor soft tissue status of the umbilical cord was associated with a 1-minute Apgar score of less than 8 points (x2=16.68, p<.001) and with oxygen being supplied (x2=4.81, p=.028).
Conclusion Assessing the umbilical cord diameter and status in newborns is an important tool for evaluating neonatal health status after birth, and this point also underscores the importance of professionals' careful observations in the newborn nursery.
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Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students' recognition and understanding of the clinical environment of high-risk neonatal nursing care after watching a documentary about the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where high-risk newborns are treated.
Methods This study was a qualitative content analysis. In total, 151 nursing students’ personal essays describing their reactions to a documentary about the NICU were analyzed using the NVivo 12 program.
Results Nursing students’ experiences of engaging with a documentary about the NICU were structured into four thematic categories: ‘actual observations of the imagined NICU’, ‘observation and recognition of nursing knowledge’, ‘empathy with people related to the baby’, and ‘establishing attitudes and values as a nurse’.
Conclusion Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that documentaries can be applied in nursing education about high-risk newborns.
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