Why Did Nurses Visit Every Infant and Toddler Household in Dongdaemun-gu?

Dongdaemun-gu Selected as Project Area for 'Seoul Baby Health First Step Project'... Nurse Home Visits Support for Infants' Families... Providing Positive Parenting Experience Opportunities Aligned with Baby Growth Stages... Up to About 25 Visits for Families Needing Continuous Support

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) is attracting attention by providing a service where nurses visit the homes of all pregnant women and infants to ensure a healthy future for newborn babies and mothers.

The "Seoul Baby Health First Step Project" is a Seoul Metropolitan Government initiative in which professionally trained nurses visit every household with a newborn to check the health of the baby and mother, and provide consultations on baby care such as breastfeeding and soothing the baby. Dongdaemun-gu was selected as a project area and has been offering this service since 2016.

For families assessed to require continuous visits based on difficulties within the home, nurses continue to provide support by visiting the home approximately 25 times until the child turns two years old.

Additionally, guidance and consultations on the growth and developmental stages of the baby, including the fetus, as well as nutrition, contraception, and postpartum depression counseling for maternal health management are provided to help the mother and the entire family build positive parenting experiences.

There is no separate cost burden for nurse home visits, and pregnant women or families with infants who wish to apply can do so by calling the Family Health Team at the Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center’s Community Health Division or through the Seoul Pregnancy and Childbirth Information Center website.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “We support nurse home visit services to ensure an equitable start for all children and to eliminate health disparities,” adding, “We will continue to provide support through various policies so that pregnant women and children can enjoy a healthy future.”