Background & PURPOSE:Since the 1970's the rate of breast-feeding has decreased significantly. The Korean National Institute of Health reported that the rate of breastfeeding was 68.9% in 1982 and 14.1% in 1997. There are many influencing factors including: the lack of education and information on breast feeding, lack of faith in breast feeding, increment of the rate of working, lack of encouragement by supporters in difficult situations, and nurses' low level of knowledge about breast feeding. Such a lack of knowledge and support of breast-feeding at home by family members create another dilemma to the problem of breast-feeding. If problems arise and family members are unable to provide assistance due to the deficiency of knowledge, mothers show a tendency to abandon breast-feeding. The purpose of this research is to find out the rate of breast-feeding practice by time sequence of 1 week, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after birth and influencing factors on breast-feeding practice centered on the postpartal women who were 3discharged from one hospital, which is located in Seoul and provides simple breast-feeding education and continuous postnatal telephone consultation. Methodology: The subjects of this research were 54 women who gave birth in a hospital located in Seoul from 1 March 2000 to 31 April 2000. After birth the subjects were educated individually about breast-feeding and telephone consultations were conducted. On the 1st week, 6th week, and 12th week, the subjects were surveyed about their breast-feeding practice rates and methods by telephone. Results: 1) Complete breast-feeding rate: Within one week after birth, the subjects showed 64.2% complete breast-feeding rate. Within 6 weeks, 39.6%, and 12 weeks, 34.1%. 2)Partial breast-feeding rate: Within one week after birth, the subjects showed 32.1% partial breast-feeding rate. Within 6 weeks, 39.6%, and 12 weeks 15.1%. 3)Complete bottle-feeding rate Within one week after birth, the subjects showed 1.9% complete bottle-feeding rate. Within 6 weeks of giving birth 15.1%, and 12 weeks 17.0%. These results show that individual education about breast-feeding and continuous postnatal telephone consultation influenced on the practice of breast-feeding. On considering the reality of the hospital situation in which nurses could not operate education program due to the work-load, it is necessary to find out selectively those mothers who are unable to breast feed and provide education individually and continuous support by telephone follow up. Futhermore, the active role of lactation nurse specialist and their efficient management of breast-feeding for the successful practice is required.
Breast ; Breast Feeding ; Education* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Lactation ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Referral and Consultation ; Seoul ; Specialization ; Telephone*

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation after normal vaginal delivery. The data were collected from November 1999 to April 2000 at a university hospital located in Seoul, Korea. Out of 49 women with normal vaginal delivery, 25 of experimental group(with exercise) and 24 of control group(without exercise) were questioned about lower urinary symptoms, discomfort during sexual intercourse and daily life. The maximum pressure of pelvic floor muscle contraction(MPPFMC) and duration of pelvic floor muscle contraction(DPFMC) were measured at pre-treatment, the end of treatment and 8 weeks after a treatment program. The pelvic floor muscle exercise program(using biofeedback and electrical stimulation) was applied to the experimental group twice a week for 4 weeks at the incontinence clinic and the pelvic floor muscle exercise at home for that time and more 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by t-test, X(2)-test, Fisher's exact test and the repeated measures ANOVA. The results were as follows; 1) MPPFMC(p=0.000) and DPFMC(p=0.021) were significantly increased in the experimental group. 2)In the lower urinary symptoms, daily frequency(p=0.001), nocturia(p=0.002), incontinence episode(p=0.016), stress incontinence(p=0.012), quantity of incontinence(p=0.026), straining(p=0.041), and strength of stream(p=0.009) were significantly decreased in the experimental group. 3)Discomfort during sexual intercourse had not a significant difference between the two groups, which was not significantly decreased as time passed. 4) In the discomfort during daily life, activity restriction(p=0.042), exercise restriction (p=0.008), interpersonal relationship restriction(p=0.046), and discomfort of general life(p=0.027) showed a significant difference between the two groups, which were not significantly decreased as time passed. In conclusion, it is suggested that the pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation might be a safer and more effective program for the improvement of postpartum pelvic muscle contraction.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Coitus ; Electric Stimulation ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Muscle Contraction ; Pelvic Floor* ; Postpartum Period ; Seoul ; Urogenital System*

PURPOSE:The objective of this study was to identify the effectiveness of continued breast feeding and maternal identity between rooming-in and not rooming-in groups of mothers in post partum care. METHOD: The subjects were selected by convenient sampling, with 95 women in childbirth completing a questionnaire. The data were collected on the 2nd day after delivery by questionnaire, and after the 4th and 8th weeks by telephone interview. Measures used in this study included general characteristics, breast feeding related characteristics, and the maternal identity scale revised by Koh(1996). The data were analyzed with the SPSS program, and the Chi-test and t-test were used to identify the effect on breast feeding and maternal identity. RESULTS:Continued breast feeding up to 4 weeks after deliverly was not statistically significant between rooming-in and not rooming-in group, but beyond 8 weeks of deliverly, it was significantly different in rooming-in group(p<.01). Maternal identity was significantly higher in rooming-in group than in not rooming-in group(p<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Mothers preferred rooming-in system because it helped breast feeding and baby care. Rooming-in system provides self confidence in taking care of baby, knowledge about breast feeding and stimulates early phase lactation. We recommend rooming-in system in hospitals to promote breast feeding and maternal identity. Nurses are encouraged to discuss prenatal breast feeding before delivery and rooming-in care should be planned individually for continuation of breast feeding and formation of maternal identity.
Breast Feeding* ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Lactation ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rooming-in Care

This study aims to find factors that affect variations in cesarean section frequency rates among OBGY clinics in Metropolitan areas. The factors include patient, medical supplier characteristics and economic factors. This study is a cross-sectional analysis using health insurance delivery claims from July to December 2000 and files of the NHIC(national health insurance corporation). Multiple regression was used to analyze the dependent variable of cesarean section frequency rate at each clinic. The results are as follows : Cesarean section frequency rate is increasing in proportion to the number of the following patients : repeated caesarean section, disproportion, obstructed labour, fetal distress, emergency caesarean section and self-employed patients. There are geographic variations as well. Cesarean section frequency rates are higher in Inchon and Gyonggi province than in Seoul. The higher number of total delivery the clinic has, the lower rate of cesarean section it has. Clinics with high frequency rates in 1999 showed higher rates the next year. Further research is required to develop evidence based delivery modes and change strategies for increasing normal delivery and activating midwife clinics.
Cesarean Section* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Humans ; Incheon ; Insurance, Health ; Midwifery ; Pregnancy ; Seoul ; Small-Area Analysis

The purpose of this Quasi-experimental design was to assess the effects of a hysterectomy on women's emotional response and ultimately, to develop a nursing protocol recommending nursing education for women undergoing a hysterectomy. The subjects at D university hospital receiving a hysterectomy,( for benign gynecological disease) were invited to participate in the study. Subjects who agreed to participate were allocated into control or experimental groups. Each group consisted of 30 women. The subjects emotional adaptation was surveyed through mood questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SAS program. The findings of the study are as follows: In the post test, the "experimental group" reported higher emotional adaptation than the "control group". Between pre and post testing, the "experimental group" showed significant improvement in emotional response; the "control group" did not. In conclusion, allocating nursing information to women both before and after undergoing a hysterectomy was confirmed as an effective nursing intervention for promoting women's emotional adaptation. Therefore, we propose a nursing protocol should be adapted recommending nursing education for women undergoing a hysterectomy.
Education, Nursing ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Nursing Assessment ; Nursing* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purpose of the present study is to consider its effect on the childbirth of a woman. This is a quasi-experimental study with nonequivalent control group post-test design. The subjects of this study are 60 primiparas (30 in the control, and another 30 in the experimental group) who have had a regular prenatal care from February 5 to March 20, 2002, in an outpatient obstetrics and gynecology of S university medical center located in Seoul. The result is as follows: 1. The hours of labor pains in the entire delivery period: the average hours are 7 hr. 9 min. in the experimental group, and 10 hr. 39 min. in the control group. The hours of labor pains are shorter in the woman with a family delivery experience in LDR. The difference is statistically significant (t=-3.34, p=.001). 2. The degree of pains in the entire delivery period: the average degree is 7.38 in the experimental group, and 7.68 in the control group. The degree of labor pains are lower in the woman with a family delivery experience in LDR. But, the difference is statistically insignificant (t=-0.86, p=.396). 3. The perceptions of the delivery experience: the average score of the perception is 73.63 in the experimental group, and 63.57 in the control group. The women with a family delivery experience in LDR have more positive perception of the delivery procedure, and, the difference is statistically significant (t=4.65, p=.000). In summary of the above result, a family- participated delivery in LDR is proved to be an effective nursing intervention that shortens the hours spent in the delivery procedure and promotes positive perceptions of the delivery experience.
Academic Medical Centers ; Delivery Rooms* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; Nursing ; Obstetrics ; Outpatients ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Seoul

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between college women's resourcefulness and health promoting behaviors. The subjects were 215 college women students who were non-married and ranged in grade from 1 to 4. Data was collected from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 2001 by a structured questionnaires. The instruments, which were modified by researcher and used for this study, were the revised Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) developed by Walker, Sechrist and Pender(1987), the Resourcefulness developed by Rosenbaum(1980) and the general characteristic scale developed by the researcher. The data were analyzed by the SPSS/PC+ program using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. The results were as follows : 1. The mean score of resourcefulness was 109.29(range:36~180). 2.There were statistically significant difference in the score of resourcefulness according to the grade(F=2.889, P=.037) and drinking(t=-3.264, P=.002). 3.The mean score of health promoting behaviors was 107.21(range: 44~176). 4.There were statistically significant difference in the score of the health promoting behaviors according to the grade(F=.141, P=.039), smoking(t=-3.314, P=.008) and drinking (t=-4.091, P=.000). 5. College women's degree of resourcefulness showed a positive correlation with the degree of health promoting behavior (r=.573, P=.000). 6. By means of multiple regression analysis, the resourcefulness provided explained 32.9% of health promoting behavior. In conclusion, the resourcefulness should be considered when developing nursing strategies for college women, especially when dealing with the health promoting behaviors. The recommendations from this study necessitate of further studies to investigate how smoking and drinking have an effect on the health promoting behaviors.
Drinking ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

The purpose of this study is to find out how the Father Class, which is being practiced at a hospital located in Seoul, influences on fathers' level of knowledge and confidence of postpartal mother and newborn care. Research design was quasi-experimental study using non equivalent experiment and control group. The data, questionaires, were collected from Sep. 13, 2001 to Oct. 31, 2001 through e-mail, telephone and mail, after discharge from S hospital located in Seoul, where the experimental group was educated at the Father Class and control group didn't take part in the class. The objects were the fathers who have the first baby through normal delivery or C-sec delivery including experimental group 48 persons and control group 52 persons. Four instruments were the revised ones of Lee Mi Kyoung's(1990) and Kwak Yon Hee's tool based on the resources of direct interviews of fathers and one expert, professor. The reliability of four instruments were Cronbach's aloha scores .85 -93. Data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 program using X(2)-test, and t-test and, One- way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, etc. The results of this study are as follows; 1.The two groups were confirmed as a homogeneous group by showing no significant difference statistically at the level of 5%. 2.The results of proving the hypothesis are followings: 1)The first hypothesis, "the fathers who participated in the Father Class will have the higher level of knowledge about postpartal mother care than the fathers who didn't" was accepted by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 2)The second hypothesis, "the fathers who took part in the class will have the higher confidence in postpartal mother care than the fathers who didn't", was supported by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 3) The third hypothesis, "the fathers who attended the class will have the better knowledge about taking care of newborn than the others", was accepted by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 4)The fourth hypothesis, "the fathers who participated in the class will have the higher confidence in newborn care than others," was supported by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 3.The further analysis showed whether they participated in Prenatal Birth Preparing Class influenced on the father's level of knowledge and confidence in postpartal mother and newborn care. In conclusion, the Father Class is the effective nursing intervention strategy that can help new fathers attain father and husband roles by enhancing the level of confidence in and knowledge of the postpartal mother and newborn care.
Electronic Mail ; Fathers* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Parturition ; Postal Service ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Spouses ; Telephone

Providing visual information about the fetus to the mother by the ultrasound examination was found to be an effective nursing intervention to promote Maternal-Fetal Attachment. In keeping with the purpose of the study, to evaluate the effect of providing visual information by ultrasound on level of Maternal-Fetal Attachment, a non-equivalent experimental group quasi-experimental design was used. The data were collected using Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale(1981) with a research questionnaire that consisted of 16 items on general characteristics and 23 items on Maternal-Fetal Attachment from November 2, 2000 to August 11, 2001. Subjects were 126 pregnant women who were received visual information by ultrasound and 123 pregnant women who did not receive visual information by ultrasound after finishing examination. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS/PC+ window 10.0 version program. The results of this study were as follows: There was no statistical difference in general characteristics between both groups. The scores on Maternal-Fetal Attachment at second trimester show no statistical difference (t=1.123, p=0.263). The scores on Maternal- Fetal Attachment in both groups increased between the second trimester and third trimester. However, the increase was greater in the group receiving visual information by ultrasound as compared to the group which did not receive the visual information(t=-2.152, p=0.032). This result shows that providing visual information about the fetus by the ultrasound examination is effective in increasing Maternal-Fetal Attachment.
Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ultrasonography*

To identify strategies to prevent sexual problems in teenage girls, respondents in this study answered two open-ended questions: "What are strategies for teenage school girls to prevent unwanted coitus?" and "What are strategies for teenage girls to prevent pregnancy?" The respondents were 12,733 girls from an accessible population of 19,000, a multi-stage cluster sample from a population of 1,988,902 girls attending 4,684 schools in the seven largest cities and nine provinces in Korea. Data were collected by mail between October 2 and October 28, 2000. The response rate was 68.9%. The total number of responses for the first question was 10,345, and for the second, 9,624. Data were analyzed by content analysis. The results of this study are: 1. According to priority, frequent strategies to prevent unwanted coitus were, self assertiveness (35.7%), heterosexual interaction training (24.6%), sex education (21.2%), and innovations in the system of social culture (4.7%). The order of priority was the same whether the respondents had experienced coitus or not. 2. According to priority, frequent strategies to prevent pregnancy were, heterosexual interaction training (27.4%), sex education (26.2%), contraceptive use and induced abortion (21.4%), and innovations in the system of social culture (3.2%). The first priority for the respondents who had not experienced coitus was heterosexual interaction training (27.7%) but contraceptive use (35.5%) was the first priority for the group who had experienced coitus. In sex education, a focus on contraceptive use for teenage girls who have experienced coitus and on heterosexual interaction training for those who have not, would strengthen preventive strategies for these two sexual problems. Assertiveness training as part of sex education would further strengthen prevention strategies.
Abortion, Induced ; Assertiveness ; Coitus ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female* ; Heterosexuality ; Humans ; Korea* ; Postal Service ; Pregnancy ; Sex Education