• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

Purpose: This study is descriptive research to identify characteristics and childbirth experience of women who selected delivery with midwives. Methods: The research methods included structured questionnaires, open questions and charts and data were collected from March 2009 to May 2010 at one midwifery clinic. The 108 data of primipara and multipara were analyzed using descriptive statistics and grouping in same meaning. Results: The general characteristics of participants were age of 31~35, housewife, college or university graduate, religion 'yes', and economic state 'middle'. The obstetric characteristics of participants were abortion rate of 23.1%, none complication to pregnancy and delivery of 97.2%, and none postpartum complication. This study was analyzed using positive experiences of 3 categories, that is 'comfortable and natural childbirth', 'satisfaction and trust to personal care of midwives', and 'experience of baby-and-family-centered childbirth' and negative experiences of 3 categories, that is 'improvement of healthcare environment', 'insufficient facilities and nursing care', and'burden of cost'. Conclusion: This study is significant, since it investigates in the absence of domestic research on the characteristics of women who delivered at midwifery clinic. Thus, this study provided basic data on the characteristics of women who delivered at midwifery clinic.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the meanings of 'Natural childbirth' from experiences of Korean women who gave birth to a baby in the midwifery using a feminist approach. Methods: This paper is a qualitative research study and applies a feminist epistemology and methodology to the experiences of women who gave birth in midwifery. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews with eleven participants. Results: Two main themes emerged from the feminist content analyses and each main theme had three sub themes. A. transformation of control and knowledge on childbirth and the body 1) refusing coercive medicalization and building a new normality, 2) specific expectations about biological health and maternity rather than a return to nature, 3) the subject of pregnancy and childbirth, B. 'natural childbirth' practice as a new embodied discipline 1) helpers to support mothers, midwives, 2) helping the body to do 'natural childbirth', 3) from isolated labor to cooperative reproduction. Conclusion: These results indicate that women desired to practice being a subject, consultation with professionals, self-discipline and named actors except for women as 'other subjects' in childbirth.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.583-598
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to investigate the operational status of the midwifery birthing centers (MBCs) and midwives' job status (Phase 1) and to develop midwifery practice guidelines (MPG) (Phase 2) in Korea. Methods: In the first phase, the subjects were 15 midwives who operated 11 of 14 MBCs that were opened as of August 2018. The questionnaire consisted of items to measure the operational status of the MBC and midwives' job status. In the second phase, the MPG was developed from literature review, interviews with five midwives opening their MBCs, surveys with 74 midwives, and a validity evaluation conducted by seven experts. Results: The distribution of operating MBCs was five in Gyunggi-do, two each in Seoul and Incheon, one each in Busan, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeju-do. The mean age of midwives was 54.3 and all were female. In 2017, a total of 762 births including 81 homebirths were performed by midwives. The job performance was highest in the order of neonatal care 3.81, childbirth care 3.56, and postpartal care 3.53, respectively. The MPG included seven areas of prenatal care, childbirth care, postpartal care, neonatal care, primary health care, law/ethics, and administration, with 56 tasks and 166 task elements. Conclusion: This study provides the valid basic data for the operational status of the MBC and the midwives' job status. The MPG describes the midwife's job and may be used as basic data for preparing policies for the development of midwifery practice in Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to understand the meaning of women's experience of spontaneous delivery with midwives at midwifery clinics or home. Methods: van Kaam's Psychophenomenological method composed of a four-stage, 12-step format was used. In-depth interviews were carried out from January to July, 2011, with twelve women. Results: Through the data analysis, 403 significant statements, 172 elements, 48 subcategories, and 19 categories were extracted, and from the 19 categories, 8 themes were drawn. The eight themes were: "Conflict on whether a hospital or a midwifery clinic", "Choosing natural delivery with the assurance of her ability to delivery spontaneously and having trust in the midwives." "Being encouraged by a midwife and family members with one accord", "Experience of the spontaneous delivery process on body", "Comfortable delivery in spite of painful process", "Deeply impressed by the overwhelming joy of birth", "Satisfaction with spontaneous delivery", and "Deeper love among family members". Conclusion: Through this study, women's delivery experiences with midwives was of spontaneous delivery. Women's birth of self-confidence and trust between the midwives and the women to predict a spontaneous delivery is a powerful factor. Also, family support and midwives delicate care was identified as factors in spontaneous delivery.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.11-74
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• 2010

This article analyzes legal meaning and definition of medical practice examining Korean Supreme Court cases. Until now, there is no right answer about the meaning of medical practice and it is also hard to define of it. Moreover, not only Acts and regulations containing medical practice but also many cases ruling a person who practice medicine, the concept of medical practice involves various meanings. So, it has caused confusion. In order to solve this problem, this article divides the medical practice's meaning into range and nature within prohibition article of the Medical Act about unlicensed personnel who practice medicine. After providing a explanation of the meaning of medical practice according to amendment of the Act, this article disputes the meanings of the several cases following the amendment. And then analyzing non-medical person's unlicensed medical practice and medical person's unlicensed medical practice. In order to provide more accurate legal concept of medical practice when Korean government amends the Medical Act or making policies in this field, this classifying analysis approach should be needed. Looking at the result, in general, Korean Supreme Court has interpreted unlicensed prohibition clause of the Medical Act widely; not only non-medical person's unlicensed medical practice but also medical person's unlicensed medical practice. Therefore, this article suggests that the prohibition clause needs to be careful applying to non-medical practice. Because, in fact, even though there are some necessity of non-medical practice, there are no qualificatory or license system of non-medical practitioner in the Medical Acts or regulations forbidding whole non-medical practices. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has decided medical person's unlicensed medical practice too narrowly, thus it does not keep up with rapid change of medical development and people's demands these days. Regarding this subject, in order to take advantage of medical practitioners effectively and cope with increasing people's medical demands, this article proposes that medical person's unlicensed medical practice only to be prohibited in case of endangering our public health.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2015

Korea has shown the lowest birth rate among OECD countries for over 10 years. This caused various social tensions and problems including negative impacts on national economy. To deal with these problems and to cope with future risk, diverse strategies must be actively explored. The purpose of this research is to delineate the characteristics of Toronto Birth Centre in Canada which was established currently to support families. Field visit study was the major methodology which includes interview with a staff and walk-through guided observation accompanied by visual recording. As a result, the specific functions and the logic of utilizing the center along with its spatial characteristics were delineated. The result has significant implication in developing coping strategies to release the social tension. The birth center can be an efficient strategy to include as a public strategy to Korean Society who has suffered from long lasting lowest birth rate.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.48-63
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• 2013

The results of the study on the space planning and landscape design of Unjoru(雲鳥樓) through the 'Jeolla Gurye Omidong Gado(全羅求禮五美洞家圖)' drawn using GyeHwa(界畵) technique are as follows. First, 'Omidong Gado' is believed to date back to the period when Unjoru(1776~1783) was established for the following reasons: (1) The founder, Yoo-IJu(柳爾?), sent the drawing for the house while he was serving as the governor of YongCheon county(龍川府史). (2) It shows the typical dwelling houses' space division and its location is in a good spot with mountain in the back and water in front(背山臨水) and there is every indication of scheme drawing. (3) Front gate was changed and remodeled to a lofty gate in 1804. Second, Nogodan & Hyeongjebong of Jiri Mountain sit at the back of Unjoru, and faces Obong mountain and Gyejok mountain. In addition, the Dongbang stream flowing to the east well illustrates the Pungsu theory of mountain in the back and water in the front. Third, the house is structured in the shape resembling the character 品, divided into 5 areas by hierarchical order in the cross line from all directions. The site, which includes the outdoor yard and the back garden, consists of 5 blocks, 6 yards and 2 gardens. Fourth, the outdoor yard with aesthetical value and anti-fire function, is an ecological garden influenced by Confucianism and Taoism with a pond (BangJiWonDo Type, 方池圓島形) at the center. Fifth, the Sarang yard(舍廊庭) is decorated with terrace garden and flower garden, and the landscaping components such as oddly shaped stone, crane, plum, pine tree, tamarisk tree and flowering plants were used to depict the ideal fairy land and centrally placed tree for metaphysical symbolism. The upper floor of Sarangchae commands distant and medium range view, as well as upwards and downwards. The natural landscape intrudes inside, and at the same time, connects with the outside. Sixth, pine forest over the northern wall and the intentionally developed low hill are one of the traditional landscaping techniques that promotes pleasant residential environment as well as the aesthetics of balanced fullness.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.40 no.1 s.106
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• pp.126-152
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• 2005

In recent years, there are some confusions related to the definition and existence of mountain ranges, which have been described in current geography text books. We contend that these confusions came from the lack of understanding on the geomorphological processes that form the mountain system in Korea. This research attempts to clarify the definition of mountain ranges and offer geological and geomorphological explanations about the formation of them. Based on the analyses of the social and cultural causes underlying the recent debates on the existence of mountain ranges, we tried to identify the relationships among the definition of mountain ranges, geological structure of Korea, and the forming processes of mountain ranges. The current and past mountain range maps were compared with geological structures, geological maps, surface curvature, and hill shade maps. The latter two maps were derived from a Digital Elevation Model of the Korean Peninsular. The results show that we are able to prove the existence of most mountain ranges, which provides a useful framework to understand the geological evolution of Korean peninsular and formation of mountainous landscape of Korea. In terms of their morphological continuity and genesis, however, we identified five different categories of mountain ranges: 1) Uplift mountain ranges(Hamkyeong Sanmaek, Nangrim Sanmaek, Taebaek Sanmaek), which were formed by the uplift processes of the Korean Peninsular during the Tertiary; 2) Falut mountain ranges(Macheonryeong Sanmaek, Sobaek Sanmaek, Buksubaek Sanmaek), whirh were directly related to the uplift processes of the Korean Peninsular during the Tertiary; 3) Trust mountain ranges(Jekyouryeong Sanmaek, Kwangju Sanmaek, Charyeong Sanmaek, Noryeong Sanmaek), which were formed by the intrusion of granite and consequent orogenic processes during the Mesozoic era; 4) Drainage divide type mountain ranges, which were formed by the erosion processes after the uplift of Korean Peninsular; 5) Cross-drainage basin type mountain ranges (Kangnam Sanmaek, Eunjin Sanmaek, Myelak sanmaek), which were also formed by the erosion processes, but the mountain ranges cross several drainage basins as connecting mountains laterally We believe that the current social confusions related to the existence of mountain ranges has partly been caused by the vague definition of mountain ranges and the diversity of the forming processes. In order to overcome theses confusions, it is necessary to characterize the types of them according the genesis, the purpose of usages and also the scale of maps which will explains the mountain systems. It is also necessary to provide appropriate educational materials to increase the general public's awareness and understanding of geomorphological processes.