Perception of Baby Boxes and Anonymous Childbirth among Female College Students in South Korea

Abstract

This study aimed to provide basic data for government legislation and implementation of the anonymous childbirth system by investigating the perception of baby boxes and the anonymous childbirth system among Korean female college students. The study participants were 460 female college students from eight colleges in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeju, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla. We observed that awareness of baby boxes was high among female college students, while awareness of the anonymous childbirth system was low. Most female college students supported this system; however, they provided various opinions on the target group(s), methods of information provision, scope of the birth mother’s information disclosure, and age limits for children to access information. In addition, a large number of female college students responded that children’s right to know their birth origin was more important than “women’s right to anonymous childbirth.” Finally, there were differences in opinions regarding baby boxes and the anonymous childbirth system according to school type and affiliated university. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.