Adult Perceptions of Healthy Pregnancy: A Focus-Group Study.

Hae Won Kim,Duck Hee Kim,Young Jin Lee,Hye Young Ahn,Hyang Yuol Lee

doi:10.3390/ijerph17072460

Abstract

The fastest aging society with the lowest fertility rate can be buffered by support for healthy pregnancies using sociocultural approaches. We aimed to address adult perceptions of a healthy pregnancy and explored their needs and concerns about childbirth across the lifespan. We conducted a qualitative study using content analysis to investigate general perceptions of a healthy pregnancy after focus-group interviews with adult men and women. We interviewed 60 participants in nine group sessions of 5 to 8 people per group. Three major themes emerged that affect healthy pregnancies: Taking responsibility for a prepared pregnancy, factors that interfere with a healthy pregnancy, and improving strategies for a healthy pregnancy. For the first theme, the two main concerns were financial and parenthood preparation. Factors interfering with a healthy pregnancy had direct and indirect causes, considering personal, social, and cultural changes. Strategies for a healthy pregnancy included family and workplace support, systematic education, and governmental support for financial preparation and health screening. Participants averred that various kinds of support (financial, healthcare, and career) are needed for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. This public awareness could promote better decisions toward healthy pregnancy with more sociocultural approaches in the various settings of home, school, and the workplace.

Highlights

Koreans have experienced a steady increase in the rates of high-risk pregnancies with maternal age over 35 growing from 14.3% in 2008 to 31.8% in 2018 [1]
Many healthcare professionals have focused on preconception- and interconception-care interventions, reducing high-risk factors and unmet needs from a healthcare providers’ perspective [5]
For this article, we explored general perceptions of the public about healthy pregnancy and general concerns or unmet needs during pregnancy events across the life span

Summary

Introduction

Koreans have experienced a steady increase in the rates of high-risk pregnancies with maternal age over 35 growing from 14.3% in 2008 to 31.8% in 2018 [1]. The total fertility rate in Korea (1.05) was the lowest in 2017 of developed countries [2] and fell to 0.98 in 2018 [3]. Due to having the lowest birth rates, Korea has initiated public-policy options to encourage childbirth nationally and to face demographic changes as the fastest aging country in the world [4]. No study investigated perceptions of healthy pregnancy with the general public as a target population. Before its implementation, understanding general perceptions of a healthy pregnancy from the public and listening to various

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion