Parenting experiences of mothers of moderate-to-late preterm children in South Korea: a qualitative study

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the parenting experiences of mothers of young children born moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT) in South Korea. Methods: In this qualitative study, semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 10 mothers of MLPT children from infancy to preschool age. The interviews were video-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Four categories resulted from the analysis of parenting experiences of mothers with young MLPT children, as follows: "becoming a mother of an early-born child", "difficulties as the primary caregiver for a high-risk child", "helpful social support, but still a lack of professional support for parenting a high-risk child", and "mothers and children growing together". Conclusion: Mothers of young MLPT children experienced difficulties due to concerns about their child's health, growth and development, and insufficient child-rearing support. Therefore, social support systems should be strengthened and more aggressive nursing strategies should be adopted for mothers of young MLPT children.

Impact of moderate-to-late preterm birth on neurodevelopmental outcomes in young children: Results from retrospective longitudinal follow-up with nationally representative data

“…Healthcare professionals must take into account the child's gestational age and birth weight when caring for young children and providing parental counseling and education regarding the risk of NI. In particular, the low clinical and social interest in children born with MLPT hinders the provision of appropriate care for children born with MLPT and their families [45], so healthcare professionals should pay special attention to these children and manage them in a way that promotes their optimal growth and development. In addition, socioeconomic status must be investigated to support the neurodevelopmental development of young children, and social and national systematic support for the optimal development of low-income children is strongly emphasized.…”