Abstract
The purpose of this study was to measure the degree of gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity, and to identify the factors influencing the difference of gravidas' knowledge. The subjects of this study consisted of 159 gravida visited 2 general hospitals, 2 OB/GY clinics and 2 midwives' clinics in J city for anenatal care. The data were collected from December 1 to 30, J.989. The instrument used for this study was true false type question which was developed by investigator through literature review. Data were analyzed by percentage, mean, t-test and ANOVA on significant difference with SPSS program. The results of this study were, summarized as follow: 1) The degree of gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity was 36.75, the degree of gravidas' know ledge of physical care activicy was 16.70, and the degree of gravidas' knowledge of psychosocial care activity was 20.00. 2) Among the physical care activity knowledge items, the diaper should be changed whenever it is soiled, $\lceil$shortly after feeding is over, bathing is bad$\rfloor$, $\lceil$gently patted or stroked on the back when bubbling$\rfloor$, $\lceil$10 minutes time in bathing is appropriate$\rfloor$, $\lceil$infant is crying whenever he is hungry per 3-4 hours$\rfloor$, and "room humidity controled 60 percent, more or less> were over a' percentage of 80 of right answer. Among the physical care, accivity knowledge items. $\lceil$a reason for burping was the air' he has swallowed will rise to the top of his stomach and be eructated$\rfloor$, $\lceil$burping is advisable after the feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$dressing of umbilical area is not necessary$\rfloor$, $\lceil$the thermometer should not be boiled for disinfection$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is important chat the infant grasp the whole nipple within his mouth$\rfloor$, $\lceil$using alcohol sponge is bad whenever diaper is soiled", and $\lceil$when temperature is taken by the rectal method, infant legs shoud be grasped firmly_! were less than a percentage of 60 of right answer. 3) Among the psychosocial care activity knowledge items, $\lceil$it is nice, mother smile at bady frequently$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother praise a bady frequently$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother express bady's behavior$\rfloor$, $\lceil$talk frequently to the bady, the bady :should not be disturbed while feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother see a baby face to face , $\lceil$it is nice, mother concentrate one's attention on her baby while playing$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother pat one's baby while he is feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is advisable, the baby is allowed to touch mother's breast while he is feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is advisable to stop feeding, if the baby protrudes one's tongue or cries while feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$baby is able to hear, see and smell$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother Concentrate one's attention on her baby while feeding$\rfloor$, and $\lceil$it is not advisable for mother to scold baby while he is crying out> were over a percentage of 80 of right answer. Among the psychosocial care activity knowledge items, $\lceil$Using' baby talks is bad when mother talks to baby> and $\lceil$it is nice, mother soothes the baby as soon as possible when he is crying I were less than a percentage of 60 of right answer. 4) There was statistically significant relationship between the degree of gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity and the demographic variables of gravida such as the age(p<0.01) and education level(p<0.01). From these results, it may be concluded that gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity is moderate level, and gravidas' knowledge of psychosocial care activity is greater than that of physical care activity. Also prenatal nursing educations should focus on subjects who have lower percentage of right answer in infant care activity knowledge items.dge items.