Yeongjong-gu Takes Prenatal Health Education to Expectant Mothers With First ‘Aimajung Care+Plus’ Session

Yeongjong-gu District (Mayor Son Hwa-jeong) in Incheon has moved prenatal education into residents’ neighborhoods for expectant mothers who find it difficult to visit the public health center. The district said it held its first outreach ‘Aimajung Care+Plus’ session on the 22nd in a program room at the Yeongjong Complex Cultural Center, with 30 expectant mothers living in the district and their spouses taking part.

[The Korean Today] Expectant mothers and spouses at the outreach ‘Aimajung Care+Plus’ session © Reporter Kim Mi-hee

Until now, education for pregnant women has mainly required them to visit the public health center in person. During pregnancy, however, physical changes often make travel and outings a burden. The event was organized with this in mind, to make it easier for expectant mothers to take part.

The same concern guided the choice of venue. The district selected the Yeongjong Complex Cultural Center, located in the center of Yeongjong Sky City and frequently used by residents. The aim is to further improve access by letting expectant mothers receive early parenting education close to home.

The program focused on building parents’ skills for a healthy delivery and stable childcare. Its content covered what parents most need once they begin caring for a baby after birth. Sessions on basic care such as newborn bathing and hygiene, how to respond in an emergency, and hands-on newborn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) practice were held in sequence.

Participants responded especially well to the emergency-preparedness practice, which was combined with theory. The parents-to-be learned firsthand how to respond in a crisis, and participants said they gained practical knowledge they can put to use right away while raising their children.

[The Korean Today] Hands-on newborn care training session © Reporter Kim Mi-hee

“I had no idea how to take care of a baby, but learning everything from hygiene to handling emergencies was a big help,” one participant said. “Being able to practice first aid myself was especially useful, and it was even more convenient to get the training close to home.”

“It is important to provide practical education so that parents-to-be welcoming a precious new life can ease their vague worries about childbirth and parenting and gain confidence,” said Jeong Han-suk, director of the Yeongjong-gu Public Health Center. “We will continue to support healthy childbirth and happy parenting through a variety of programs.”

What families expecting a baby need is not general guidance but caregiving knowledge they can actually use. The first session is significant in that it tried a model of public health services that goes out to residents rather than waiting for them to come in. Attention now turns to how far childbirth and parenting support available within residents’ neighborhoods, including Yeongjong Sky City, will expand.

[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]

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