Socioeconomic class and antenatal and postpartum care inequality in the viewpoint of Korea's response to the low fertility rate

Health Care Women Int. 2023 Jul 11:1-19. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2023.2229782. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The author pays attention to the low total fertility rate (0.78 in Korea in 2022) and inequality in antenatal and postpartum care between socioeconomic classes. I analyzed the data of the Korea Health Panel (2008-2016), 1,196 postpartum women. Low-income households have low fertility rates and less experience with antenatal and postpartum care, and postpartum care costs tend to be time-series lower than others. In order to solve the problem of low fertility due to economic burden, policy governance should focus on equity in antenatal and postpartum care. This is to go beyond women's health and ultimately contribute to social health.