ScholarWorks@경상국립대학교

초록

Objectives: Undocumented immigrant pregnant women in Korea face multiple structural barriers that limit timely and adequate prenatal care. This study explored prenatal care experiences and identified barriers and facilitators to inform practices and policies. Methods: This study used a qualitative phenomenological design. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 women (Vietnam, n=9; Thailand, n=3; Philippines, n=1) residing in Gyeongnam between July 14 and August 31, 2025. Data analysis was guided by Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Rigor was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and audit trails. Results: Seven themes emerged: financial burden and access constraints; language barriers and the absence of medical interpretation; discriminatory administrative encounters and emotional withdrawal; uncertainty and anxiety driven by information gaps; limited but important social support and unreliable alternative information sources; positive experiences such as relief from hearing the fetal heartbeat and compassionate explanations; and cultural and structural constraints including fear of status exposure and mobility risks. Conclusions: Prenatal care barriers reflect structural vulnerabilities rather than individual shortcomings. Policy implications include public coverage of prenatal and delivery costs, institutionalizing medical interpretation, university–NGO–public health collaboration models, and standardized multilingual guidance.

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