PURPOSE: To analyze the job of nursing unit managers working at women's hospital, using DACUM (developing a curriculum), DACUM is a method for analyzing job-focused competency. METHODS: This study involved a descriptive survey. A DACUM workshop was held to define women's hospital nursing unit managers' role and identify their duties and tasks. For the workshop, a committee was formed consisting of 5 women's hospital nursing unit managers. Finally, after validation, the developed contents were made into a survey asking about nursing unit manager's duties and tasks. RESULTS: Sixteen duties and 83 tasks were identified on the DACUM chart. The importance, difficulty, and frequency of the tasks were ranked in terms of A, B, and C, with A being the highest degree. Eight tasks received A's all in importance, difficulty, and frequency of performance. The 8 tasks were: ‘taking over’, ‘taking care of seriously ill patients on handover’, ‘ward rounding’, ‘analyzing and resolving demands identified during handover and patient tour’, ‘reporting patient status during rounding’, ‘promoting breast-feeding’, ‘uterine contraction, and training for breast-feeding’. The duty with the biggest determinant coefficient (DC) was ‘patients complaint management’ (DC=7.09). Based on tasks, the one with the biggest DC was ‘solving patient and patient guardian's complaints’ (DC=7.53), followed by ‘making infection control guidelines’ (DC=7.5). CONCLUSION: When expanding the nursing staff of the hospital, women's hospitals nursing unit managers also need to use administrative functions as intermediaries to focus on the operation management of the entire hospital rather than direct nursing to suit their role.
Education ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Methods ; Nursing Staff ; Nursing ; Nursing, Supervisory ; Task Performance and Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are among the agents responsible for infection and cancer of the skin and mucous membranes in the human body. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and type distribution of HPVs in married female patients with gynecological complaints, who had visited the Maternity Hospital in Erzurum, Turkey. METHODS: In this study, 263 cervical swab samples were taken from married women using the Pap smear method and were investigated for positive reactivity against HPV. The L1 gene region of HPV was investigated using molecular methods. For this purpose, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and sequence analysis of positive samples were performed. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using a bioinformatics approach after sequencing. RESULTS: HPV-DNA was detected in 17 (6.5%) samples. Highest positive reactivity to HPV-DNA was found in the 35–44 age group at 9.2%. Fourteen out of seventeen positive samples were included in the phylogenetic analysis. All isolates clustered in the Alphapapillomavirus genus. Six samples were found to be HPV 70 positive, four were HPV 16 positive, and the rest were HPV 54, 72, 81, and 114 positive. When genotyping data were evaluated according to the risk group, we found that 28.6% of the 14 samples were found to be high risk-HPV, and 71.4% were low risk-HPV. CONCLUSIONS: As per our knowledge, this is the first report on the phylogenetic analysis of HPV genotypes isolated from women in Turkey. The prevalence of low- and-high risk HPV was determined in married women in Erzurum, and these results contribute to the epidemiological data on the distribution of HPV types for this region.
Alphapapillomavirus ; Computational Biology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Human Body ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans ; Methods ; Mucous Membrane ; Papanicolaou Test ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sequence Analysis ; Skin Neoplasms ; Turkey ; Vaginal Smears

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the relationships among the perceptions and practice of taegyo (a traditional set of practices and beliefs related to healthy fetal development) and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women.METHODS: The participants were 136 pregnant women who visited a public health center or maternity hospital for prenatal care. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of varience, and Pearson correlation coefficients with SPSS version 22.0.RESULTS: The mean age of the pregnant women was 32.24±3.99 years. The mean scores for perceptions of taegyo, practice of taegyo, and maternal-fetal attachment were 3.96±0.53, 3.74±0.64, and 3.94±0.49, respectively. Perceptions of taegyo were significantly correlated with the practice of taegyo (r=.72, p<.001), and maternal-fetal attachment (r=.55, p<.001). A significant correlation was also found between the practice of taegyo and maternal-fetal attachment (r=.65, p<.001).CONCLUSION: Perceptions of taegyo affected the practice of taegyo, and had a positive effect on maternal-fetal attachment. These findings suggest that primary care nurses at hospitals and public health centers should provide nursing intervention programs to improve the perceptions of taegyo, the practice of taegyo, and maternal-fetal attachment.
Female ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Humans ; Maternal-Fetal Relations ; Nursing ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Care ; Primary Health Care ; Public Health

Because childbirth is a complex and difficult process, intensive preparation, and the immediate availability of emergency assistance during every step of delivery support to maternal safety. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women must be able to access the right care at the right time. Appropriate obstetricians is important factor for easy access during pregnancy. Especially, an increase in the number of specialists in maternal-fetal medicine would greatly improve the pregnancy outcomes of high-risk women. In 2013, a total of 2,274 obstetricians were employed in maternity hospitals and clinics in Korea. Their average age was 44.8 years and they will get older soon. By 2026, 740 junior obstetricians will join the maternity care system, but 916 senior obstetricians will have retired on night duty at hospital because of above 60 years of age. Thus, obstetrician numbers will fall by 176. Korea requires 2,338~3,507 obstetricians based on an annual number of deliveries per obstetrician in 2016. However, Korea has a shortage of obstetricians because of the low birth rate-induced business losses, inadequate payment system by the national health insurance program, and the quality-of-life preferences of young doctors. Ensuring an appropriate supply of obstetricians is essential for infrastructure of safe childbirth. I believe that adequate payment by the national health insurance program, and new medical insurance fees for management of high-risk pregnancies, will encourage young doctors to become obstetricians. The government should also introduce additional night duty fees and overseas training programs for young obstetricians.
Commerce ; Education ; Emergencies ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea* ; National Health Programs ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Pregnant Women ; Specialization ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effects of puerperium maternal anxiety, quality of marital relationship, and postpartum blues on late postpartum depression. METHODS: Participants were 130 postpartum women who delivered healthy babies, and answered self-administered questionnaires, such as Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS-K), Spielberger's State Anxiety Inventory, and Quality of Marital Relationships during the 1st week of delivery and 4–6 weeks postpartum. Data were analyzed using t–test, ANOVA, Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, and hierarchical stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The point prevalence of postpartum depression (EPDS-K ≥10, cut-off score) was 23.1% at early postpartum and 16.9% at late postpartum. Predictors of late postpartum depression were early postpartum depression (β=0.86), the difference between early and late postpartum anxiety (β=0.19), and the difference between early and late Quality of Marital Relationships (β=−0.13) (F=70.52, p<0.001). The total vatiance explained was 76.5%. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that a maternal management system should be established at maternity hospitals to screen new mothers' depression and anxiety risks during the early postpartum stage.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Depression, Postpartum* ; Female ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Marriage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Prevalence

This paper centers on the staff nurses' level of competency and patients' level of satisfaction. Descriptive comparative design was utilized covering 32 staff nurses and 37 maternity patients from an accredited government maternity hospital. Purposive sampling was used to select the respondents. The questionnaires that were employed came from the Department of Health's Philippine Nurse Certification Program Self Assessment Tool for Level 3 Certification in Maternal and Child Nursing. The profile of staff nurses includes gender, length of experience, and educational attainment. On the other hand, gravidity, parity, and age are the patients' profile. Informed consent was given to all respondents. Statistical tools that were used includes: frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-Test, one way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation. The result concluded that there was no significant difference in the staff nurses' level of competency and patients' level of satisfaction when their profiles were considered. Moreover, it can be elucidated that there was no significant relationship between the level of competency and level of satisfaction. It can be interpreted that staff nurses are highly competent and patients are highly satisfied in terms of Client Care, Management and Leadership, and Research. However, there were statements with moderately competent results namely assess degree of laceration and actively participates in the collection of data research process to improve Maternal and Child Nursing practice in work setting with a mean of 2.50 and 2.28 respectively. The researcher suggests enhancement program in the form of the following trainings: internal external suturing in coordination with Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines and Research Process in coordination with Philippine Nursing Research Society.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Leadership ; Self-assessment ; Gravidity ; Parity ; Personal Satisfaction ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Lacerations ; Societies, Nursing ; Nursing Research

This paper centers on the staff nurses' level of competency and patients' level of satisfaction. Descriptive comparative design was utilized covering 32 staff nurses and 37 maternity patients from an accredited government maternity hospital. Purposive sampling was used to select the respondents. The questionnaires that were employed came from the Department of Health's Philippine Nurse Certification Program Self Assessment Tool for Level 3 Certification in Maternal and Child Nursing. The profile of staff nurses includes gender, length of experience, and educational attainment. On the other hand, gravidity, parity, and age are the patients' profile. Informed consent was given to all respondents. Statistical tools that were used includes: frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-Test, one way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation. The result concluded that there was no significant difference in the staff nurses' level of competency and patients' level of satisfaction when their profiles were considered. Moreover, it can be elucidated that there was no significant relationship between the level of competency and level of satisfaction. It can be interpreted that staff nurses are highly competent and patients are highly satisfied in terms of Client Care, Management and Leadership, and Research. However, there were statements with moderately competent results namely assess degree of laceration and actively participates in the collection of data research process to improve Maternal and Child Nursing practice in work setting with a mean of 2.50 and 2.28 respectively. The researcher suggests enhancement program in the form of the following trainings: internal external suturing in coordination with Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines and Research Process in coordination with Philippine Nursing Research Society.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Leadership ; Self-assessment ; Gravidity ; Parity ; Personal Satisfaction ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Lacerations ; Societies, Nursing ; Nursing Research

INTRODUCTIONDenial of smoking status by pregnant women presents a missed opportunity for referral to smoking cessation programmes that are shown to be effective in helping them quit smoking.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted to detect the true prevalence of active smoking pregnant patients and the accuracy of self-reporting, investigate the sociodemographic risk factors and test the knowledge of pregnant patients on adverse effects of smoking. This involved 972 antenatal patients of a maternity hospital where participants completed a sociodemographic data survey and answered a knowledge questionnaire. Urine cotinine testing was carried out after informed consent.

RESULTSThe prevalence of active smokers was 5.2% (n = 50) with 3% (n = 29) being light smokers and 2.2% (n = 21) being heavy smokers. This was significantly higher than self-reported active smoking status of 3.7% (n = 36; P = 0.02). The Malay race, being aged less than 20 years and not having tertiary level qualifications independently increased the likelihood of being an active smoker. Knowledge of the adverse effects of smoking was generally good with a mean total score of 8.18 out of 10 but there were differences amongst the non-smokers, passive smokers, light smokers and active smokers (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONWhile the prevalence of active smoking among pregnant women is low in Singapore compared to other countries, this study substantiated the unreliability of self-reporting of smoking status in the pregnant population which could complicate referral to smoking cessation programmes. The lower awareness of the harms of smoking during pregnancy among smokers highlights a potential area for improvement.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cotinine ; urine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ethnic Groups ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Malaysia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; epidemiology ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Self Report ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Smoking ; epidemiology ; urine ; Young Adult

Despite low childbirth rate in Korea, the number of women with high-risk pregnancies is steadily increasing, mostly due to increased maternal age, multiple pregnancies, and obesity. In fact, one out of five Korean women is above 35 years old at childbirth. It is well known that high risk pregnancy is closely related with increased maternal mortality, either by direct or indirect causes. Despite such problems, however, Korea's health care infrastructure for childbirth has deteriorated, leaving approximately 20% of the geographic area of the country medically underserved with regard to optimal maternity care. Such a collapse has been caused by the decrease in the number of maternity hospitals and their financial difficulties due to medical fee reimbursement for childbirth being too low. The problem is aggravated by a lack of obstetricians who can provide skilled attendance at childbirth. In addition, extensive legal pressure has dissuaded talented medical students from pursuing obstetrics and gynecology, thereby resulting in aging and severe gender imbalance in such professions. The direct consequence of the collapse in infrastructure for childbirth is an increased maternal mortality ratio, especially in underserved areas. Moreover, increased maternal death caused by postpartum bleeding reflects an obvious sign of danger in the maternal health care system. Furthermore, the number of tertiary hospitals that can provide optimal care to high risk pregnant women has decreased to two-thirds of what it once was, and the training of competent obstetricians for the mothers of the future continues to be a difficulty.
Aging ; Aptitude ; Delivery of Health Care ; Fees, Medical ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Humans ; Korea ; Maternal Age ; Maternal Death ; Maternal Health ; Maternal Mortality ; Medically Underserved Area ; Mothers ; Obesity ; Obstetrics ; Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital ; Parturition* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Pregnant Women ; Students, Medical ; Tertiary Care Centers

Precise prenatal care and safe childbirth under the guidance of a qualified obstetrician are essential reproductive healthcare services that enhance the survival and wellbeing of mothers and newborns. However, during recent decades many maternity hospitals and clinics in Korea have closed, particularly those in rural areas. In addition, the number of obstetricians providing care for pregnant women is declining. This reduction in obstetric services is a growing political issue in Korea. Several policies and programs have tried to accelerate and expand the provision of essential maternity services, especially in rural areas, but there have been numerous barriers to overcome, including malpractice litigations. Now is the time to discuss the role of current and future government programs in the improvement of obstetric care and, moreover, to develop outlines for progress in underserved areas.
Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Government Programs ; Hospitals, Maternity ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Jurisprudence ; Korea* ; Malpractice ; Mothers ; Parturition* ; Politics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Care