Trends in Health-related Interventions on Children Attending Community Child Care Centers in South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify trends in health-related interventions on children attending Community Child Care (CCC) centers, which are part of a health policy to provide after-school care for vulnerable children in South Korea. Methods: From 2007, 109 papers were analyzed using the scoping study method. Results: The number of studies increased steadily between 2007 and 2016. Most studies were based on the social sciences, and the participants were mainly elementary school students. Psychological and social interventions were the most common types of interventions with socio-psychological indicators as measurements. In addition, only a few studies had a clearly defined conceptual framework. The majority of studies did not explicitly indicate that they followed ethical considerations. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop health-related interventions for children attending CCC centers using diverse subjects, types, and evaluation methods, along with improvements in the quality of research methodology. Furthermore, it is essential to clearly articulate and implement ethical considerations in research targeting vulnerable children.

Service Providers’ Perspectives on Barriers of Healthy Eating to Prevent Obesity among Low-income Children Attending Community Childcare Centers in South Korea: A Qualitative Study

“…At the organizational level, the permissive attitude of service providers and the incapability of assistant cooks at CCC-centers were the main themes. In Korea, CCC-centers provide an environment that influences the health and development of socially vulnerable children, as well as their socialization and emotional development (Park, Baek, and Im 2018). However, service providers, who have a substantial influence on children's health behavior, have a permissive attitude about portion restriction because they sympathize with the children.…”

What Are the Challenges of School Nurses in South Korea in Managing Obese Children From Low-Income Households?

“…The number of CCCs steadily increased from 3,260 in 2011 to 41,134 in 2015, with the government-funded budget for CCCs also increasing from 96.3 billion won in 2011 to 136.3 billion won in 2015 (National Youth Policy Institute, 2016). CCCs are unique facilities in Korea, and these are suitable places to provide health care intervention for children from low-income families (Park et al, 2018). However, it is difficult to operate a continuous and systematic childhood obesity management program in CCCs without budget support because most places have poor economic and physical environments (Jung et al, 2019).…”

Social Ecological Barriers for Healthy Eating of Obese Children and Their Caregivers in Low-income Families in South Korea

“…The CCC centers are an after-school program for low-income children promoting health, growth and development. CCC centers provide welfare services, including protection, education, culture, emotional support and community linkage, to low-income families, and serve as a complement to the role of the family (Park, Baek, and Im 2018). Of all these services, "feeding and snacking" was the service rated as providing the highest level of assistance, and were a priority for parents and children in deciding to use the CCC center (Suh and Rho 2013).…”