• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate safety of postpartum herbal medicine by assessing the effect of taking herbal medicine of postpartum period on liver function. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 167 mothers who underwent liver function tests (LFT) within 3 months before and after childbirth among mothers who gave birth at ○○ Hospital between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Mothers with abnormally elevated LFT during pregnancy were excluded. Among 167 women, 6 women are herbal-medicine-group took herbal medicine for 5-6 weeks during postpartum period, and 161 patients are general -group who did not take herbal medicine. LFT Variation of Subjects before and after childbirth were compared between the two groups. And subjects who had elevated liver levels above the normal range after delivery were classified separately, the characteristics and causes of changes in liver levels were analyzed, and the presence or absence of drug-induced liver damage was confirmed. Results: Among a total of 167 subjects, there were 5 women in the herbal-medicine-group and 150 women in the general-group who had changes in liver values within the normal range after childbirth. Aspartate transaminase (AST) change before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 3.40±1.82, and AST change in the general-group was 2.92±8.59, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.901). Increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 5.60±3.65, and ALT change in the general-group was 8.01±11.81, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.651). There were 12 subjects who had elevated AST, ALT above the normal range after delivery, including 1 in the herbal-medicine-group and 11 in the normal mothers group. Valuation of 1 Subject of the herbal-medicine-group before and after delivery was 17 IU/L of AST and 52 IU/L of ALT. Because results of AST, ALT is under the standard to diagnose to liver damage, she was observed without any treatment. However the cause of AST, ALT elevation was not found in the chart, she was receiving treatment for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The general-group had an average increase of AST 35.64±22.67 IU/L and ALT 53.00±26.80 IU/L. As a result of analyzing the cause, there were direct causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis B, and acute pyelonephritis. Abnormal elevations in liver levels were also found in mothers with hypothyroidism, diabetes, and fever of unknown cause, although they were not direct causes. Conclusions: To investigate the safety of taking herbal medicines, we assess the variation in AST and ALT within 3 months before and after delivery in the herbal-medicine-group and general-group. There was no significant difference between two groups.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.17-32
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• 2006

This essay has attempted to document the actual behavior patterns and the social networks related to the child delivery in the pre-industrial Korean society. We interviewed 30 women who had given birth to their first child during the 1930s and the 1940s in order to accumulate data related to son-prayer rites, prenatal care and food avoidance, sacred-string culture, and other incantation rituals. The characteristics of the social relationships with the person who had assisted the delivery and the recovery were also analyzed in terms of kinship networks. The results are as follows. First, there was a big gap between knowledge and the actual practices in birth rituals and customs. We assume that this is due to the adverse social-economic conditions at that time which may have restricted the actual performances of these customs. Second, there were almost no differences of the performance of these' birth customs between the urban areas and the rural areas. Third, the people who assisted the delivery were women who were mostly from the husband's family. Help from the wife's family were quite exceptional. Finally, it has been found out that only about half of the women who were interviewed performed the well-known custom of three-week after-birth confinement.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.111-132
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• 1999

This correlational descriptive study sought to define the relationship between the experience of Sanhujori, Korean tradition non-professional postpartal care after delivery and abortion and present physical symptom distress of arthritis female who visited to outpatient clinic of rheumatic internal medicine at three hospital located in Seoul, Pusan, Chongju, Korea. Data from a convenience sample of 98 women who orally agreed to be respondent were collected from September 1, 1998 to October 31, 1998 for two months by way of interview with semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis consisted of frequency, percentage, mean, S. D., Pearson Correlation Coefficient, t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test as a post hoc by SPSS. The results of the study were as follows ; Mean age of participants as 52.8 years and mean number of children 3.3. Mean frequency of child birth was 3.1 times per woman, 67.4% of respondents had menopause, 57.0% did not have Sunhujori after abortion. The health status implies the subjective health status women perceived, which came from the three points of view of the present, comparative with other of same age and changed after delivery. The respondents of 76.1% perceived them as unhealthy and the main sites of physical symptom distress were upper & lower extremities including knee and hand 34.8%, shoulder 26.5%, waist 22.4%. Women perceived the etiology of the arthritis as 'did Sanhujori wrongly' 36.7%, 'aging process' 24.5%, 'stress' 16.3%, 'overwork' 15.3%, 'Immunocompromize' & 'physical constitution' 7.1% respectively, 'character' 3.1%, 'genetic' 2.0%, 'malnutrition' 1.0%. The mean period of Sanhujori after delivery was 20.4 at the first child and 18.1 at the second child. The higher frequency of child birth, the shorter period of Sanhujori. For the subjective evaluation of whether the women did Sanhujori well or not, the rate of 'did Sanhujori well' was the highest rank in the first child and the rate of 'did not particularly Sanhujori well' was the highest rank in the last child. There was a significant positive correlation between physical function disability and rheumatoid arthritis symptom at the level of 1% of significance statistically(r=.406). And a positive correlation between physical function disability and Sanhubyung symptom at the level of 5% of significance statistically(r=.224). There was a significant positive correlation among rheumatoid arthritis symptom, Sanhubyung symptom and menopause symptom at the level of 1%-5% of significance statistically. Most of all, the correlation between Sanhubyung symptom and menopause symptom was the higher than others. There was a negative correlation between the present physical symptom distress and experience of Sanhujori(r=.-130), however it was not significant statistically. However, there was a positive correlation between subjective health status and experience of Sanhujori at the level of 1% of significance statistically(r=.328). In conclusion, this finding reconfirmed the positive relationship between the perceived health status and experience of Sanhujori after delivery among women of arthritis. It provides a challenge to the professional care givers to study further on the effects of Sanhuiori after abortion or delivery on the physical symptom distress from the variouis aspects through the cross-sectional and longitudinal research. The strategy for the development of the appropriate intervention for primary prevention of sequele after childbirth and quality of care for desirable health outcomes for postpartal women with considering deeply on the relationship between women's health and postapartal care.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.217-230
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• 1998

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to define the relationship between the experience of Sanhuujori, Korean traditional non-professional postpartal care after delivery and abortion and present health status of chronic arthritis female patient who visited to outpatient clinic of rheumatic internal medicine at a hospital located in Seoul, Korea. A convenience sample of 64 women who orally agreed to be a participant and data were collected form October 1996 to May, 1997 for sis months by way of interview with semistructured questionnaire. The data were analyzed by the SPSS pc program using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test as a post hoc and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results of the study were as follows ; Mean age of participants was 53.2 years and mean number of children was 3.1. Mean frequency of abortion was 2.1 times per woman. Seventy four percentage of respondents did not have Sanhujori after abortion. The mean period of Sanhujori after delivery was 17.7, 15.2, 13.8 days from the first child to third child and shorter than that of general woman such as 20.0, 19.0, 17.3 days in the previous study. On the subjective evaluation of whether the women did Sanhujori well or not, the rate of 'did Sanhujori wrongly' was the highest rank in each child where as general woman 'did Sanhujori well' at the first child, 'moderate' at the second and third child and 'did Sanhujori wrongly' at the 4th and fifth child. The health status implies both subjective health status women perceived and the rate of complaints of physical symptom distress women are experiencing presently. The respondents of 82.5% perceived them as unhealthy or sick and 68.9% of women complained more than two symptoms. Mean number of physical symptom distress women complained was 2.33. The main sites of physical symptom distress were upper & lower extremities 69.1% including knee and hand, whole body 19.1%, neck 3.7%, waist & shoulders 2.7% respectively. The characteristics of the symptoms were mostly pain 60%, swelling 19.8%, rigidity & deformity 7.9% respectively, sensation of heat 6.8% and weakness 1.7%. Women perceived the etiology of the chronic arthritis as stress 25.8%, 'did Sanhujori wrongly' & overwork 23.4% respectively, genetic 12.9%, malnutrition, 4.8%, and aging process 3.2%. There were significant positive correlation between subjective health status and the period of Sanhujori after delivery of the second child(r=-0.22) and negative correlation with the number of child at the level of 5% of significance statistically(r=0.27). There were significant negative correlation between the rate of complaints of physical symptom distress and the subjective evaluation whether she did Sanhujori well or not at the level of 5% of significance statistically(r=-0.23). And the rate of complaints of physical symptom distress in the group of women who experienced abortion was significantly higher than that of women who did not experience it at the level of 5% significance statistically(t=2.00) In conclusion, this finding reconfirmed the possible relationship between health status of chronic arthritis female patient and the experience of Sanhujori after delivery & abortion. It provides a challenge to the professional care givers to research further on the effects of Sanhujori on the health status, health recovery after abortion or delivery from the various aspects through the crosssectional and longitudinal research for the refinement of the reality of not only as cultural phenomenon but as conceptual model for the appropriateness of intervention and quality of care for desirable health outcomes.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.351-356
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• 1988

To evaluate the possible functional role of serum nickel during the process of parturition, 15 serum samples were collected and analysed for the nickel concentrations in each 3 groups(Group 1 for the period during parturition, Group 2 for the period from delivery of fetus to delivery of placenta, and Group 3 for the period after delivery of placenta) of normal, uncomplicated full term vaginal delivery and one control group composed of healthy unmarried women in 3rd decades of age. Data revealed that average serum nickel concentration of Group 2($26.6{\mu}g/l$) and Group 1($22.2{\mu}g/l$) were significantly higher than that of Control group($13.7{\mu}g/l$), but Group 3's($13.8{\mu}g/l$) was almost same as Control group's. There were significant negative correlation between age and serum nickel concentration in group 2, and a tendency of higher nickel concentration in women who have no previous experiences of pregnancy than who have previous experiences of pregnancy, although it was not significant. These result could be indicative of close causal relationship between serum nickel concentration and the entire process of parturition.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.59-72
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the duration of lochia in women hospitalized at Korean medical postpartum care center and to identify factors that influence duration of lochia. Methods: On the obstetric variables of 315 cases, the duration of lochia was analyzed. In the postpartum care center, the obstetric variables were asked of 315 cases of women, and who examined a body composition. After discharge, women were surveyed for the duration of lochia by telephone. Results: The median duration of lochia was 30 days and the range was 18~53 days. Maternal age, parity and mode of delivery were associated with its duration. So, its duration was longer on women over the age of 35, multipara and women had a Cesarean section. Its duration was correlated with gestational age and BMI before pregnancy, but not neonatal gender, birth weight, maternal BMI change during pregnancy, maternal body weight gain, BMI before delivery. Conclusions: It was 30 days that the median duration of lochia of women who had been got Korean medical postpartum care management, and which was slightly different from previous studies. And it was influenced by maternal age, parity, mood of delivery, gestational age and BMI before pregnancy. In future more studies or surveys for the duration of lochia of women with no treatment, lochial pattern and so on should be done.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-24
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• 1998

There exists a general consensus in Korea that patients tend to concentrate in large hospitals and this tendency is partly responsible for inefficiency in health services. The process of choosing a medical care provider for health care services and evaluating the provider after utilization seems to involve many diverse factors to become very complex. Therefore a systemsatic study is needed to achieve sufficient understanding of the proeess. For this point of view, this study investigates patient's selection of medical care institution for delivery care services and their evaluation of the institution after delivery. In more specific, the objectives of the study are twofold: 1) to identify the factors associated with expectant mothers' choice of type of medical care institution for delivery among tertiary hospitals, general hospitals, small hospitals, and clinics: and 2) to understand the factors affecting patient evaluation of the medical care institution after delivery. The data used for the analysis were collected through face-to-face interviews with those women who had childbirth during the period from January 1, 1996 to the date of interview in February 1998. The survey was conducted using preqared structured questionnaire in Seoul. The sample was drawn from each of arbitrarily defined four regions of Seoul, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest, in proportion to the number of births reported in 1996 in each of them. The distribution of the interviewed women by educational level was made similar to that of mothers of new babies reported in 1996. The sample size was planned to be about 300, but ended up with analytical sample of 319. Major conclusions emerged from the analysis can be summarized as follows: 1) Large hospitals were evaluated as much better for technical quality than other types of institutions, whereas they were compared similar to or worse for other attributes. And it was found that technical quality of care is considered as the most important condition of medical care institution for delivery, while the amount of direct cost is considered as the least important one. Taken together, the utilization of large hospitals is not likely to decrease even though they cannot give satisfaction to patients in other aspects than technical quality. 2) The activeness in the search for information affected the respondents' evaluation of medical care institutions, which would influence their later decision or recommendation to other persons as to the choice of source of health care services. Therefore, increased efforts should be directed to improving availability of useful and correct information for patients in relation to the utilization of health care services. 3) Since the findings of this study were obtained from the analysis of delivery care services, their applicability to other kinds of services may be limited. Thus it would be useful to conduct a comparative study of several kinds of services explicitly taking into account the characteristics of those services in the analysis.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.186-196
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• 2021

Purpose: Breast cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent among young Korean women. During pregnancy, women's concern regarding their breasts heightens. Thus, pregnancy provides a window of opportunity for breast cancer prevention and management along with antenatal care. This study developed and evaluated an integrated breast health program for pregnant women. Methods: This study employed a non-equivalent control group and non-synchronized design (22 experimental, 29 control). Women pregnant for over 28 weeks participated. The two-session integrated breast health program focused on breast management during breastfeeding and education about breast cancer prevention and early screening. Results: During the early postpartum period (within three months after the program), there were statistically significant differences in knowledge and attitude about breast cancer and breast self-examination before and after the program. There were also statistically significant differences in BSE at 6 and 12 months after the program and mammography at 12 months after the program. However, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical breast examination and breast ultrasonography at 6 and 12 months after the program. Conclusion: The integrated breast health management program was effective in increasing knowledge and improving attitudes regarding breast cancer, BSE, and early screening practices among pregnant women. Further studies should consider providing breast health programs differently for each phase of pregnancy and continuing the same after delivery.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.61-79
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• 2000

This study to study and analyze the current state of infancy breast-feeding ＆ practice and related factors and to provide basic data for the effective practice of breast-feeding and breast-feeding percentage improvement. For the object, 474 mothers of the infants who were born between Jan. 1, 1998 and Dec. 31, 1998 were selected, and the survey period ＆ method were from Oct. 15, 1999 through Nov. 14, 1999 (1 month period) and telephone interview, respectively. To examine by month breast-feeding type, the average breast-feeding percentage in 1 month after a child's birth was 42.4%, but after 6 month it decreased to 23.0%. To see breast-feeding percentage by academic background, the breast-feeding of elementary school graduated mothers was 33.3%, which was highest, and it decreased as the academic background of mothers went better (p〈0.01). By employment state, the percentage for the mothers who were not employed was higher (24.6%) than that of those who were employed at the time, which was 8.0% (p〈0.001). There was no meaningful difference found in breast-feeding percentage by infant mothers age, delivery place, infant sex, child order in family, weight at the time of birth. To examine breast-feeding percentage by delivery method, natural delivery was 27.0% which was higher than 13.1% of Caesarean section (p〈0.01), and by breast-feeding experience before leaving the hospital, 35.6% of those who have breast-fed were breast-feeding while it was 16.4% for those who never did it while in the hospital (p〈0.001). After conducting logistics multi return analysis having breast-feeding percentage as a variable at the time of 6 months after babys birth, I found that infant mothers employment state, delivery method, and breast-feeding experience before leaving the hospital become meaningful variables. As unemployed mothers (p〈0.05), as chose natural delivery (p〈0.05), as experienced breast-feeding before leaving the hospital (p〈0.001), there was more tendency to do breast-feeding. Summing the above results, I would like to suggest the following to raise breast-feeding percentage. Firstly, systematic education about the importance and advantages of breast-feeding and correct breast-feeding method should be practised for women. Secondly, vacation before and after childbirth for working women should be practised and the support of systems for working womens breast-feeding such as installation of nursery in work place are needed. Thirdly, continuous publicity and education for natural delivery inducement is necessary, and for the ones who chose Caesarean section, recommendation of breast-feeding is also needed. Fourth, for breast-feeding within fastest time after delivery, rooming-in required and legal and systematic support is also needed. Lastly, in the governmental level, publicity for breast-feeding and breast-feeding recommending programs that promotes 10 rules for successful breast-feeding bringing-up, provided by UNISEF and WHO, are to be provided.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.559-569
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• 2002

The study examined the effects of San-Yin-Jiao(SP-6) acupressure treatment on labor pain, length of delivery and anxiety for women in the labor. The effects of using SP-6 acupressure were evaluated by comparing two groups, a SP-6 acupressure group (22) and a control group (17), for a total of 39 women in labor who had a normal vaginal delivery. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire which included general characteristics, a subjective labor pain scale, measurement of duration of delivery time and a subjective anxiety scale. Data were collected before treatment (pre) and after treatment (post). The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. The post-scores for total labor pain increased over the pre-scores but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(p=0.219). Wilcoxon signed rank test of the difference in pre-post labor pain scores for the SP-6 acupressure group was not statistically significant (p=0.081) but the increase for the control group was statistically significant (p=0.001). 2. The length of time for the delivery in the group which had the SP-6 acupressure was shorter (143.91${\pm}$67.77) than the control group (197.94${\pm}$89.64). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.028). 3. The post-scores for anxiety increased over the pre-scores but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p=0.426). The scores of SP-6 acupressure group did not show a significant increase by the Wilcoxon signed rank test (p=0.194) but in the control group showed a significant increase (p=0.008).This study showed that SP-6 acupressure was effective in relation to labor pain, length of time for delivery and anxiety for labor women. But it is necessary to replicate the study with a larger number of participants to generalize the results.