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Plain Language Summary In the context of pregnancy preparation, attention has recently shifted from the period just before pregnancy to the early years, or even throughout one’s life. The World Health Organization identifies adolescents as requiring specific attention. Adolescents’ health behaviors can impact their adulthood years and have significant repercussions on the health of the future generation. In addition, recent studies consistently report that the preparedness of both men and women is essential to pregnancy preparation. Therefore, it is now time to present a new strategy by identifying and grasping the different factors that influence the two genders. This study can raise awareness of healthy pregnancy preparation behavior from adolescence onwards of both genders. There were differences in factors affecting HPPB by gender. For healthy pregnancy preparation, interventions based on HBM constructs and smoking should be presented for both male and female adolescents. Imparting education to females on the importance of HPPB (β = 0.19, p = 0.005) and males on confidence in HPPB (β = 0.12, p = 0.401), gender equality related to pregnancy and childbirth (β = − 0.20, p = 0.001 for women’s responsibility variable, β = 0.14, p = 0.018 for men’s responsibility variable), and alcohol consumption (β = − 0.10, p = 0.022) should be emphasized; and effective healthy pregnancy preventive strategies should be developed based on these findings. Interventions to prepare for a healthy pregnancy from an early age can ensure the health of both mother and child.

Plain English summary Starting in early adulthood, such as college students in the preconception stage, it is necessary to take care of one’s mental health (including depression) in order to have a healthy pregnancy in the future. The early identification of adults needing depression management is also a major challenge. In this study, an online survey was conducted to investigate levels of depression among Korean college students and their intention to manage depression for a healthy future pregnancy, as well as to identify the influencing factors. Convenience recruitment was conducted by e-mail at one university in Korea, and 828 male and female college students responded to the survey. An analysis of the factors affecting the intention to manage depression for a healthy future pregnancy identified the components of the Theory of Planned Behavior as influencing factors in both men and women. In particular, self-efficacy had the greatest influence. However, the current level of depression was only a significant factor among women. These findings could help nurses recognize differences in gender characteristics for the intention of preventive depression management for a healthy pregnancy, and provide evidence to develop and implement the intervention. These efforts will ultimately reduce high-risk pregnancies due to poor mental health.

Background and objective: This study examined the relationships between the perceived severity of unwanted pregnancy and attitudes toward four contraceptive methods (condoms, oral contraceptive pills, the withdrawal method, and the rhythm method) according to gender and sexual experience among unmarried university students in Korea. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 1,372 unmarried university students (men, n = 755; women, n = 617). This was a secondary analysis based on a prior online survey. Descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis test, pairwise comparisons using the Mann-Whitney U test with the Bonferroni correction, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data in this study. Results: Female students with sexual experience had the highest scores for the perceived severity of unwanted pregnancy. In each group defined according to gender and sexual experience, differences in attitudes toward contraceptive methods significantly influenced the perceived severity of unwanted pregnancy. Conclusion: Efforts should be made to increase the perceived severity of unwanted pregnancy among female students who have favorable attitudes toward the rhythm and withdrawal methods. Students with sexual experience who use the rhythm and withdrawal methods should be targeted for educational interventions aiming to strengthen the perceived severity of unwanted pregnancy.

PURPOSE: To analyze articles published in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing from 2013 to 2017 to determine the latest research trends and understand how 2013 Korea Women's Health Statistics were reflected in journal articles. METHODS: A total of 130 studies were analyzed. Research design, types of research, research framework, research subjects, characteristics of quantitative research, characteristics of qualitative research, and keywords were analyzed using a structured analysis format. RESULTS: Quantitative and qualitative research accounted for 83.8% and 13% of these 130 studies analyzed, respectively. Non-experimental and experimental research accounted for 70.7% and 13.1% of these studies, respectively. The most frequent study subjects were childbearing women (62.8%), including college students, mothers, and adults. A total of 69.1% of non-experimental research and 88.2% of experimental research used convenience sampling. Questionnaires were most frequently used for data collection. The most frequent keyword domain involved health-related concepts (41%) among nine domains and the most frequently used keyword was “women.” CONCLUSION: This study suggest that further experimental research should be conducted in the future. Also, adolescent and the elderly women should be focused on as subjects in future studies based on results of 2013 Korean Women's Health Statistics.

Background and objective The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is usually asymptomatic, may affect both sexes, and is easily transmitted. Providing male adolescents with information about HPV prevention before sexually active state is important. This study was designed to gain a better understanding of the perceptions on HPV severity, knowledge on ways to prevent HPV infection, and influencing factors toward preventive measures in male adolescents. Materials and methods A self-administered questionnaire was completed by students aged 13–17 years from six schools in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area, from October to December 2014. A total of 615 male adolescents participated in this cross-sectional survey. Results Only 58 (9.5%) boys had heard of HPV. They perceived HPV infection as a disease more severe in girls. Perceptions of HPV as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in boys (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–3.19, p

To determine the degree to which nurses are aware of cervical cancer and to describe nurses' experiences of caring for patients with cervical cancer. To promote quality of nursing care of cervical cancer, we need to explore their perceptions and nursing experience in doing cervical-cancer care. This study was a qualitative descriptive design. Interviews were conducted with 14 registered nurses. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed. Content analysis was performed. Fourteen nurses who had been working at wards and cancer education centers were recruited in this study. Nine key themes emerged from three categories such as nurses' awareness of cervical cancer, awareness of cervical cancer patient and caring experience. Nurses expressed fear of cervical cancer and helplessness in the face of a life-threatening prognosis. Nurses stated that they might have prejudice about cervical cancer, since it is caused by a sexually transmitted disease. They also recalled that patients with cervical cancer were more sensitive and demanding. Our findings provide a comprehensive and in-depth perspective in understanding the experience of caring for cervical cancer patients. Clinical nurses showed complex emotional reactions to cervical cancer, and expressed prejudice against the sex life of cervical-cancer patients. More education is required to ensure that clinical nurses can provide a nurse-led intervention with patients by managing nurses' fear, prejudice, and the care burden.