BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe breastfeeding policies and practices among hospitals in South Korea and the degree to which the hospitals are implementing the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 34 hospitals was used to collect data. Quantitative and qualitative information and insights into current breastfeeding policies and practices were derived from responses of maternal and child health personnel at each hospital. One questionnaire per hospital was completed with personnel from all sections of maternity services, labor and delivery, nursery, and postpartum, contributing information needed to create a composite picture of the hospital's breastfeeding policies and practices. RESULTS: Most hospitals were classified as either high or moderately high implementers on four of the Ten Steps: printed information distributed to breastfeeding mothers, oral breastfeeding instruction given to mothers, infant supplementation, and infant feeding schedules. The remaining steps, including key practices like staff instruction, breastfeeding initiation, rooming-in, and hospital postpartum support are being partially implemented by the majority of hospitals in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Areas identified as needing the greatest attention by hospitals were health care staff training, breastfeeding initiation, supplementation, rooming-in, breastfeeding policy, and postpartum support for the breastfeeding mother.
Appointments and Schedules ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Breast Feeding* ; Child ; Child Health ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea* ; Mothers ; Nurseries ; Postpartum Period ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to grasp the conflicts that nurses are facing in their practice and to develop some nursing intervention on these conflicts of nurses. The subjects of this study are the nurses working at K hospital in Seoul. The data were taken from Jan. to May in 2001. It took me and half or two hours for each interview and six interviews were done for each subject. The data were analysed by Giorgi technique and conclusions are given as followings; 1. The unreasonable international relationship is derived from misunderstanding between peer groups in nursing, the lack of leadership, the relative property, irresponsible job done, under expectation and some unreasonable behaviors. 2. The changing portrait of oneself is view through the changed fram of mind, unreasonable fret and the changing appearance. 3. The limitations originated from lack of vision, lack of knowledge, lack of professionalism, lack of confidence and one's worry about one's job. 4. The poor working environments are such as lack of man power, lack of commodities, worn out facilities, irregular transferring of job, night work, overwork, good for nothing continuing education program and errors in the administration. 5. The conflicts between nurse's role in the hospital and a nurse as a homemaker are the lack of opportunity to educate their offsprings, multiple roles, and not cooperating husband who has to chip in his role as a partner. The nutshell of our study is that the working environment should be improved such that nurses can work with joy in their heart. Also the practical educational programs should be provided by hospital administration such that nurses can work in the hospital with pride in their heart
Education, Continuing ; Hand Strength ; Heart ; Hospital Administration ; Humans ; Leadership ; Nurse's Role ; Nursing ; Peer Group ; Seoul ; Spouses

BACKGROUND: Pediatric societies throughout the world recommend breastfeeding as the optimal form of infant nutrition. This recommendation is based on extensive epidemiologic research that documents the health, developmental, psychological, social, economic, and environmental benefits to infants, mothers, families, and society. The purpose of this study was to examine breastfeeding information and emotional support received by mothers prenatally, hospital breastfeeding practices, and the relationship between information and support received and breastfeeding initiation and planned feeding method post discharge from the hospital. METHODS: A 36-item questionnaire was distributed during the Spring 2000 to mothers who delivered babies at maternity centers in Seoul, South Korea. A sample of 52 mothers was surveyed at the time of hospital discharge. The questionnaire was developed based on the literature and reviewed by experts including internationally board certified lactation consultants, a nutritionist, and perinatal nurses. The survey instrument consists of five components: sociodemographic information, breastfeeding information received by mothers prenatally, emotional support regarding the mothers' infant feeding choice, breastfeeding initiation and supplementation, and hospital breastfeeding practices. RESULTS: Fifty-two breastfeeding mothers at three hospitals completed the survey. The majority of the mothers were 26 to 35 years of age, college graduates, married, had uncomplicated vaginal or planned cesarean deliveries, and primiparas. Forty-nine mothers responded that they decided to breastfeed during their pregnancy. Mothers reported that the information they received during pregnancy was provided primarily by their mothers, or friends and other relatives. The majority of mothers reported that others influenced their infant-feeding decision. Forty mothers reported receiving emotional support for their infant feeding choice during their pregnancy with mothers or mothers-in-law and friends providing the greatest support. DISCUSSION: Women obtain information prenatally about breastfeeding from many sources-family, friends, written materials, prenatal classes, and health care professionals. There are benefits and drawbacks to information received from multiple sources. Additionally, research has shown that a woman's infant-feeding decision is affected by the type of professional and social support the mother receives. Postpartum professional support for new breastfeeding mothers encompasses multiple dimensions ranging from a follow-up telephone call from the hospital nursing staff to referral to a community resource. Prenatal breastfeeding education on a community-wide basis can provide essential information for future mothers, families, and community support networks. Additional research needs to be done exploring the impact of prenatal, postpartum, and post-discharge support for women on breastfeeding initiation and duration rates.
Breast Feeding* ; Consultants ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Friends ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea* ; Lactation ; Mothers* ; Nursing Staff, Hospital ; Nutritionists ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Education ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Referral and Consultation ; Seoul* ; Telephone

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between self-efficacy and self -regulation behavior in obese college women. Subjects included 52 college women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) score above 25 at Gwang Ju Women's University. Data was analyzed using SPSS/PC. The frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient tests were used to describe the data and for statistical comparisons. Results of this study showed that the mean scores for general self-efficacy and specific self-efficacy of obese college women were 3.37(1 to 5 point scale) and 60.16 (10 to 100 point scale) respectively. Significant differences for general and specific self-efficacy based on economic status were seen. The mean score for self-regulation behavior of obese college women was 2.55(1 to 5 point scale) with significant differences seen for both economic status and obesity of the mother. General self-efficacy was positively correlated with specific self-efficacy (P=.009) and specific self-efficacy with self-regulation behavior (P=.000). This study revealed the level of self-efficacy and self-regulation behavior, and the positive correlation between specific self-efficacy and self-regulation behavior in obese college women. Intervention is needed to promote selfefficacy for self-regulation behavior of obese college women. Further research needs to focus on the role of health promotion, diet and stress management in developing self-efficacy programs for obese college women.
Body Mass Index ; Diet ; Female ; Gwangju ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Mothers ; Obesity

The purpose of this study was to investigate the waist to hip ratio, body fat, BMI(Body Mass Index), weight, serum lipids and to examine the correlation between waist to hip ratio, body fat, BMI(Body Mass Index), weight and serum lipids in obese college women. The subject were 52 college women with a score above 25 on the BMI, between March and May of 2000 at G Women's University. Data has been analyzed by SPSS/PC using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The result of this study are as follows : 1. The mean of body weight and height of the subjects were 72.38kg, 160.23cm. 2. The mean of waist to hip ratio was 0.88, body fat was 38.88%, BMI(Body Mass Index) was 28.15, the level of total cholesterol was 174.88mg/dl, triglyceride was 104.29mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol was 50.83mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol was 104.23mg/dl. 3.Waist to hip ratio was more significantly correlated to triglyceride(r=.34, P<.05) and BMI(Body Mass Index) was more significantly correlated to triglyceride(r=.30, P<.05).
Adipose Tissue* ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to address the working conditions of home health nurses through a nationwide home health agency survey conducted at hospitals. METHOD: The mail surveys were sent to 303 home health nurses nation wide and returned with a response rate of 71.8%. RESULT: (a) Seventy-five percent of home health agencies were established within the past5 years and half of home health nurses are over 40 years old. (b) Working conditions were considered as follows: Seventy-one percent of respondents were full-time employees, sixty-sixpercent of home health nurses had unscheduled visits on a regular day of duty and forty-eight percent were on vacation. Fifty-one percent of home health nurses have experienced traffic accidents and paid penalties (65.9%). Self-reported monthly income level per year was an average of 28,364,000 won. (c) Rates were significantly higher for shoulder pain (61.5%), lower back pain (54.1%), knee pain (39.4%), and gastrointestinal problems (33.0%). CONCLUSION: These baseline results show the importance of improving home health nursing working conditions, a comprehensive prevention system and safeguards from physical discomfort.
Middle Aged ; Korea ; Humans ; Home Care Services, Hospital-Based ; *Home Care Services ; Home Care Agencies ; Female ; Data Collection ; *Community Health Nursing ; Adult