Abstract
Background: The Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) program was developed in Sydney with the aim of supporting families of infants who have high support needs. The MECSH program has since rolled out in many communities worldwide and has demonstrated effectiveness in improving both maternal and child outcomes. The Seoul metropolitan government in South Korea adapted the MECSH program for local needs, calling it the ‘Seoul Healthy First Step Project’ (SHFSP). SHFSP is modelled on MECSH, and includes a universal care component which had not previously existing in South Korea to support all mothers with young children living in Seoul. In doing so, South Korea has become the first country in Asia to implement a home visiting intervention that was developed in a Western context. This study gives focus to the role of SHFSP in promoting positive mother-child interactions in South Korean. It will address three f research questions: 1) How do South Korean mothers with young children understand and prioritise mother-child interactions? And what are the service structures that support them in building mother-child interactions?; 2) What is the specific role and impact of SHFSP in supporting positive mother-child interactions?; 3) To what extent does the SHFSP prioritise mother-child interactions? And how does the SHFSP present this information to families? Method: The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 addressed RQ1, employing semi-structured individual interviews to understand South Korean mothers’ perspectives, values, and experiences of mother-child interactions. Participants were recruited through a snowballing method, and interview transcripts were analysed by thematic analysis using NVIVO software. Phase 2 addressed RQs 2 and 3. It utilised four secondary data sources: ‘Knock, knock, knock, how are mum and baby’; the SHFSP Improvement Plan report; 19 SSHFSP educational resources; and the ‘Communicating With a Growing Baby’ parent handbook. These secondary data sources, which are publicly available in South Korea, were analysed using a summative content analysis to explore the contribution of the SHFSP to supporting positive mother-child interactions. Results: Findings suggest that South Korean mothers valued building positive relationships. Themes identified within the interviews included: providing emotional support; avoiding expressions of anger towards the child; communication; engaging in activity with their children; and physical contact. Support services provided by four different government 2 structures focused on supporting the financial and practical needs of families with children. The SHFSP played a crucial role in providing content and learning opportunities for mothers to enhance positive relationships with their children through improving practical, emotional, and basic skills. The SHFSP emphasised sharing information and resources regarding mother-child interactions to help mothers with interactions. However, there was a higher priority placed on presenting resources related to maternal and child health and safety.Conclusion: South Korean mothers valued and prioritised mother-child interactions, and they were interested in enhancing their parenting skills in this area. Prior to the implementation of the SHFSP, government primarily focused on providing financial and practical support, rather than providing support in the development of mother-child interaction skills. However, there has been a change in the landscape of support since the SHFSP was introduced. This program provides all mothers with the opportunities to participate in learning experiences designed to promote positive mother-child interactions. While some adjustments were made during the implementation, the SHFSP has successfully adopted the home-visiting program that was developed in a Western context into a South Korean context.
| Date of Award | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Rebekah Grace (Supervisor) & Lynn Kemp (Supervisor) |