The purpose of this study was to find out women's need and level of knowledge about episiotomy, pain and discomfort related to episiotomy on a cross-sectional survey design. The subjects were 102 postpartal women agreed on oral consent. 34 postpartal women admitted at obstetric ward of H university hospital, 34 postpartal women admitted at 2 Sanhujoriwons, and 34 women within one year afterbirth. They were selected in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected from July, 1 to September 30, 2000, by a structured questionnaire. The instrument used for this study was a questionaire consisted of 5 items of general characteristics, 12 items of obstetric characteristics, 10 items of level of knowledge (Chronbach alpha .8176), 8 items of need of education(Chronbach alpha.8836), 3 items of pain (Chronbach alpha.9252), and 3 items of discomfort (Chronbach alpha.8092). The data were analyzed by the SPSS/PC+ program using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test as a post hoc and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results of the study were as follows; 1. 63.2% of respondents had right answer on 6-8 items among 10 items. Only 4.4% of women got right answer on 10 items all. 2. The need of education was high(4.45%) on all items and the range of score was 4.25~4.64. 3. The strength of pain was the highest within one week afterbirth(5.93/10) and became lower in 8-14 days afterbirth(2.55). And after 15days of postpartum, the pain level became to the lowest level(1.08). However, pain was delayed until more than one month afterbirth. 4. The level of discomfort was the highest one week afterbirth(6.88/10) and became lower in 8-14 days afterbirth(4.20). And after 15days of postpartum, the discomfort level became to the lowest level(2.47). Universally, the degree of discomfort was higher than pain. 5. There was a strong positive correlation between discomforts and pain (r=.752**) and weak positive correlation between discomforts and the level of educational need(r=.308*). In conclusion, women have a right to choose whether she will have episiotomy or not according to her decision making based on the comprehensive knowledge of episiotomy before they get episiotomy with consent process and explanation in detail. Women health care providers like nurses have a responsibility to do conscious raising and empowerment for women so that they could lead themselves to choose given medical treatments for women's health and wellbeing and the quality of life in her life cycle.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Decision Making ; Education ; Episiotomy* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Cycle Stages ; Postpartum Period ; Power (Psychology) ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Women's Health