Single Mothers’ Experiences with Pregnancy and Child Rearing in Korea: Discrepancy between Social Services/Policies and Single Mothers’ Needs

Jung-Eun Kim, Jin Yong Lee and Sang Hyung Lee
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Jung-Eun Kim: Division of Social Welfare Policy Coordination, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Seoul 03741, Korea
Jin Yong Lee: Public Health Medical Service, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 07061, Korea
Sang Hyung Lee: Department of Neurosurgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 07061, Korea

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: This study aims to explore single mothers’ experiences with social services/policies for their independent living and to identify gaps between these experiences and the needs of single mothers. A focus group discussion was performed to collect data. Seven single mothers discussed their experiences in significant periods of their lives: pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Findings from the qualitative thematic analysis show discrepancies between the direction of social services/policies and single mothers’ needs, in terms of difficulties in healthcare, childcare, housing, employment, and income security. To the single mothers in this study, the social safety net is not inclusive, compared to that which is available to two-parent families or adoptive families. It is necessary to intervene in current blind spots of services/policies for single mothers, and to provide a social safety net to strengthen single mothers’ self-reliance and their children’s social security in the long term.

Keywords: single mother; healthcare; childcare; employment; housing; self-reliance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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