Abstract
The purpose of this study was to discern the level of satisfaction of postpartum care in hospitals. the level of importance of traditional postpartum care and the need for home health care for postpartum women. The study's design was to obtain data needed to develop a community-based postpartum care program and to improve the quality of nursing for postpartum care recipients. Data for the study was collected from 1 March to 31 June 2000 from 116 postpartum care recipients treated in Chung-Buk, Korea. Data analysis consisted of frequency, percentage, t-test, and ANOVA. using SPSS win program. The results the of analysis were as follows: 1) The level of satisfaction of postpartum care in the hospital (mean 1.31) was very low. The most laudable items of nursing care by category were: moderate satisfaction with 'perineal wound care' (2.04) and 'afterpain observation'(2.09). The overall level of satisfaction of postpartum care in the hospital. however, was very low. 2) Among other items of postpartum care in the hospital, 'postpartum exercise' $(25.9\%)$. 'assessment and support for postpartum depression' $(25.9\%)$, 'operation wound care for women who underwent Caesarean sections' $(24.5\%)$. and 'contraception and family planning' $(20.4\%)$ showed a need for home health care for postpartum care recipients above $20\%$. 3) The level of importance of traditional postpartum care (Sanhujori) was relatively high (mean 2.72). The importance of Sanhujori by category was as followed: 'the fourth principle: protecting the body from harmful strains' was the highest (2.88), 'the third principle: eating well', 'the first principle: invigorating the body by augmenting heat and avoiding cold', 'the second principle: resting without working', 'the fifth principle: keeping clean' and 'the sixth principle: handling with the whole heart' showed 2.85, 2.80, 2.70, 2.51 and 2.46 respectively. 4) The need for home health care with Sanhujori was very low. 5) The relationship between demographic factors and the level of satisfaction with postpartum care in the hospital was as follows: the satisfaction levels were significantly different among' delivery frequency' and 'health status' alteration after delivery'. 6) The relationship between demographic factors and the importance of the Sanhujori category was as follows: There were no significant differences in the level of importance of the first and the forth principle of Sanhujori. The level of importance of the second principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'income' and 'family type'. The level of importance of the third principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'having a boy'. The level of importance of the fifth principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'income' and 'feeding type'. The level of importance of the sixth principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'education background' and 'feeding type'. In conclusion. the findings of this study illustrate the nursing needs of postpartum care recipients. It provides a challenge to caregivers in the healthcare industry to develop a continuous postpartum care program and integrative postpartum care system that embodies the oriental and western paradigm for the promotion of women's health.
