저출산 대응정책의 생애주기별 정합성 분석 연구: 자녀 양육기의 돌봄 분야를 중심으로

Abstract

The government has established and implemented low-birth-control measures since 2006. However, there has been a decline in the number of newborns compared to the same month of previous year and this is a concern for further low fertility. This study, therefore, has analysed how the current low birthrate policies meet the needs of those who want to give birth. Particular attention has been paid to child care support in child rearing period and the improvement has made according to participants' recognised and unrecognised needs of support level. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1,200 parents with children under the age of 18 and pre-married couples to identify the satisfaction and needs of the current government's care support. In addition, 31 policy specialists in low fertility sector were participated on the survey about the evaluation and improvement of the current child care support policy. Infants and school-ages parents were conducted in-depth interviews to identify their difficulties and needs of child-rearing.

According to the parent survey, the requirement for young children's health checkup and medical expenses was highest at 6.25 points(out of 7 points), followed by 6.17 points for child support tax, 6.12 points for supporting school education expenses, 6.06 points for providing medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth and child care fee subsidy, and 6.05 for caring support after school programme. The policy experts has shown the needs for newborn and postpartum helpers is the highest with 4.90(out of 7 points) in the period of newborn baby. Followed by support for medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth, and support for high-risk newborns and mothers. As of 2016, the municipalities' maternity support policy of medical expenses for newborns was the highest satisfaction at 5.32 points(out of 7 points).

The followings are policy agenda proposals. The coverage of child care support should extend to the primary school age, and to secondary school age for child care cash support, tax support, child health checkups and medical expenses support. Child care support has to strengthen from the current support for child care fee subsidy to medical care support for infants and young children, child care service after school, support for school education expenses, and support for medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth. For each child nurturing stage, supports for newborn·mother helpers and medical expenses in birth and newborn stage are required. In early child stage, the inquiry for 0-5 years old child care fee subsidy is the highest, followed by 3-5 Nuri Curriculum, and time extension type of child care; these inquires are mainly child care services. Followed by Infant and toddlers health care, full day care services for infants, national immunization support for children under 12, child tax credits, and education tax credits. In primary school children stage, policy needs to strengthen supports in the ares of child care services after school; after school programme class, school-based after school programme, and after school voucher.