• 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.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of nursing college students who attended delivery practices at midwifery clinic. Methods: This was a qualitative study using focus groups. Data were collected by group interviews with a total of 12 students who observed natural childbirth at midwifery clinic. Data were analyzed through Colaizzi's method in which meaningful statements were extracted. Results: The meanings of experiences were identified five theme clusters from thirteen themes and thirty-one sub-themes. The five theme clusters were 'ultimate process of natural childbirth', 'allowed birth', 'role recognition of the midwife', 'positively changed perception', and 'barriers'. Conclusion: This study showed that observation of delivery at midwifery clinic was helpful for nursing students in terms of positive impression about natural childbirth with maternal and baby being centered. Nursing students expressed value and concern about delivery at midwifery clinic. Further in-depth study of natural childbirth in terms of husband and family perspective is required. For quality improvement of maternity nursing care, natural childbirth process needs to be included in nursing care at hospitals as well as students' clinical practicum.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.379-387
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the actual state of childbirth in Korean women with natural childbirth and the degree of damage to the perineum during childbirth. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of mothers who had natural childbirth at a hospital in Seoul, Korea in 2018. Data from 358 women with cephalic births at greater than 37 gestational weeks were analyzed. To determine natural childbirth characteristics and the degree of damage to the perineum, descriptive statistics were done. The difference in the degree of perineal injury according to obstetric characteristics was analyzed using independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The mean age was 33.18±3.68 years, and 49.2% were primiparas, while 39% gave birth with a doula. The degree of perineal damage differed by age (F=9.15, p<.001), parity (t=19.13, p<.001), number of births in multiparity (F=3.68, p=.027), previous vaginal delivery in multiparity (F=3.00, p=.032) and birthing posture (F=7.44, p<.001). Having received therapeutic procedures (t=-4.62, p<.001), specifically fluid administration (t=-2.72, p=.007), oxygen supply (t=-2.76, p=.006) and epidural anesthesia (t=-2.77, p=.006) were statistically significant for perineal damage. There were no differences, however, by gestational period, doula use, water room use in labor, baby head circumference, or birth weight. Conclusion: Study findings suggest that support for older women, primiparas, and those who require therapeutic procedures may help to decrease the possibility of perineal damage during childbirth. As perineal damage was also associated with birthing posture, this should be considered when providing intrapartum nursing care.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was intended to explore the essential structure and the meanings of childbirth experiences among Korean women participated in Lamaze childbirth education. Methods: Giorgi's phenomenological method was used to analyze data collected by in-depth interviews with six primiparous women from March to July 2009. Results: Five components identified in the meanings of experience: 'Simplicity', 'Self-control', 'Uncontrollable pain', 'Spiritual maturity', 'Physiologic event'. Conclusion: The study results revealed that the childbirth experience was positive generally, partially influenced by Lamaze childbirth education. But, meanings of childbirth experience with Lamaze childbirth education were mostly physiological respect related to labor pain or one's own efforts to endure labor pain. Therefore, nursing strategies for drawing emotional and socio-environmental experiences from childbirth experience with Lamaze childbirth education is needed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.299-308
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was designed to identify nurses' perceptions and educational intentions regarding natural childbirth control (NCC) methods. Method: The participants were 313 nurses working at three general hospitals in Seoul. They were asked to complete a questionnaire composed of scales measuring knowledge and perceptions childbirth control methods, awareness of bodily changes in ovulation phase, perceptions of fetal life, which were developed by the author. Also, Chang's (2002) Sexual Autonomy Inventory was utilized. The data were analyzed by the SAS program. Results : Methods of condom and rhythm were considered to be more useful for childbirth control than other methods. Only 34-54% of them knew exactly about the NCC methods using menstrual cycle, body temperature, and mucus. The mean scores of sexual autonomy and awareness of bodily changes in ovulation phase were 3.8 and 3.4 out of 5, in respect. Educational intention was different statistically by the age, marital status, future intention to use NCC methods, and perception of educational need for NCC methods. Conclusion : Nurses' perceptions and educational intentions regarding NCC were low, especially in nurses who were married. It is recommended to encourage nurses to learn NCC methods for clients education.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.58-70
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• 2018

Purpose: To provide accurate information on induced labor and find strategies to enhance women's childbirth satisfaction. Methods: Participants were pregnant women expected to have normal vaginal delivery. A total of 113 women with induced labor and 61 women with spontaneous labor were surveyed. Data were collected using a questionnaire and electronic medical records. Results: The following variables related to labor progress showed significant differences between the induced labor group and the spontaneous labor group: length of the first stage of labor in primigravidas, use of analgesic, incidence of uterine hyperstimulation, incidence of fetal distress, and medical treatment for the expectant mother. Delivery type and the incidence of postpartum complications showed significant difference between the two groups. Induced labor women's childbirth satisfaction was mainly affected by the process of labor whereas spontaneous labor women's childbirth satisfaction was affected by the outcome of childbirth. Conclusion: Medical staff should have accurate information on the risk of induced labor and the benefits of a natural delivery. Moreover, medical staff should provide necessary information and environment for women to participate in the decision-making process.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.799-812
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• 2000

This study adopts the phenomenological approach in order to explore the experience of urinary felt by the small island women and to find the meaning and structure of their experience, for the further understanding of them. This study succeeded in detecting five topics and three basic structure from eight participants, and followings are the comprehensive statement of them. The five topics include neglect of care after childbirth, unavoidable life in the tidal flat, shame which cannot be expressed even to their husbands, endless anxiety toward the expected future, and sad(dilemmatic) lived experience. The basic structure is that small island women who have urinary incontinence are apt to regard their disease as a natural destiny of women who fail to get adequate care after childbirth, and something to be endured to live in the seashore. They think of urinary incontinence as something so shameful that they cannot reveal it even to their husband and family. They believe that it even changes their personality since they must always stay alert in order to cope with the situation; for example, when it takes place unexpectedly, like too often to go to toilet, to change the underwears, to wake up in the middle of the night to go to toilet, to try not to laugh loudly, or to have showers. In addition, they accept it as a natural process of aging and incurable disease, and they consider themselves already ruined on the way of becoming uglier. They show dilemmatic abandonment: give it up unwillingly but at the same time think it is natural for others too. The unique experience of small island women with urinary incontinence implied in those statement are inseparable with the specific conditions for survival in the island. Unlike other diseases, it is considered the result of traditionally poor care after childbirth. However this misunderstanding that it is a natural phenomena for all the women who experience childbirth and aging and thereby incurable leads to an undesirable attitude toward urinary incontinence. According to the analysis, environmental conditions specific for small islands make the women there have distinct and unique experience concerned with urinary incontinence. Consequently, the future nursing plan for urinary incontinence in the small island area must be made and enforced with the consideration of these specific phenomenological meanings. Modern Korean nursing has basically been centered to hospital or urban areas. Besides, nursing intervention has long depended upon the research of western countries. This research, however, shows how greatly the regional and cultural characteristics influence the understanding of a certain disease, and is expected to make more specific and in-depth nursing approach enable for those who have urinary incontinence in small islands.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 1994

Maternity means all the women who are capable to conceive. In the aspect of health and medical care. however. it means the women who are now in pregnancy or have already given birth to a baby or are in a period of being recoverd from physiological changes occurred by pregnancy. According to the rapidly changing social structure. both the Quality and Quantity of the capacity of childbirth experienced by women are changing. Our society. having established a great economical growth by virtue of the highly developing and growing industrialization and urbanization. stimulates the women's advance into society and thereby increasing the number of employed women. When the women's participation in society is increased. their age of marriage is also affected. Which means there are a decrease of the capacity of childbirth in terms of quantity and a trend for women to have less children and to deliver a baby in their old age in terms of quality. On the contrary. since the number of multipara who want to have a baby in their old age is increasing. as a counter functional effect to the political project of decrease of a birth rate. concern has been focussed on childbirth in old age in the present study. And also such kind of the childbirth may be danger to the health of both mother and baby. Therefore the present study intended to provide some basic data of health education in the part of the health management of both mother and baby in the general hospital. based on understanding the realities of childbirth in. old age and things related to them. To achieve such a purpose of the present study. an analytical study by means of SPSS. was done using the data of 269 clinical records on both the newborn .babies and their mothers who had been supported by public general hospitals located in Seoul for 3 years from Jan. 1. 1991 to Dec. 31. 1993. Some significant results from the analytic study are as follows: 1. It appeared that the average age of normal. natural delivery was 33.8 years old and the average age of delivery through the cesarean operation was 35.4 years old. 2. It appeared that danger factors to childbirth women were types of the delivery and placental extrusion and danger factors to newborn babies are not so outstanding. 3. It appeared that the variables of the childbirth capacity which showed a significant difference according to each age group of women were the number of pregnancy. number of still birth, and number of existing children. That is. the age group of 'more than 35 years' had more frequency of experience In all 3 variables than the age group of 'less than 35 years'. 4. It appeared that the variables of the childbrith capacity which showed a significant difference a according to the sex of a newborn baby were number of pregnancy, number of still birth, and number of existing children. That is, the age group of 'more than 35 years' had more frequency of experience in all 3 variables than the age group of 'less than 35 years'. 5. It appeared that the health index of newborn babies which showed a significant difference was only 5 minute APGAR. That is, the health index 9.46 in the age group of 'more than 35 years' was less than an index of 9.72 in the age group of 'less than 35 years'. 6. Since a counter correlation of -0.10, as Pearson Correlation Coefficient, was showed between the age of childbirth mothers and the weight of newborn babies, it indicated that the higher age of childbirth woman, the lesser the weight of newborn baby. 7. It appeared that the number of women who had confirmed the sex of their baby before their delivery were 45 women, $67.2\%$ of total 67 women who had delivered a baby. and the expected sex by women in childbed was male with $73.1\%$ of total childbirth women expecting male birth and with their expression of feeling of female delivery. very regretful' by $39.3\%$ of total childbirth women. The results as shown above may indicate that instead of the possibility of danger to both the mother delivering a baby in old age and the baby delivered, the expectation of getting a son motivates childbirth in old age. As a conclusion, in a dimension of general hospital as well as national reform. it is required that a program of health education for childbirth in late maternal age have to be developed in the part of the health management of both mother and baby in the near future.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-80
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• 2000

This study was described as midwife's role and obstacle of midwife's role expansion. Midwife as primary medical personal who practices for a mother and infant health care and promotion of mother infant interaction. As the trend of increasing natural childbirth, midwifery has to provide childbearing care those who want delivery in a midwifery center. This study conducted to survey for 44 midwives who work at the midwifery center. The results of the study as fellows. 1. Most of the midwives role was care of pregnancy, delivery, postpartum women and babies. Another role was conducted educational classes childbirth, breast feeding, contraception and sexual education. 2. Some midwives role perform breech, vaccum delivery, episiotomy and suture, pitocin induction and augmentation, ultrasonogram, giving medication, anesthesia, collecting specimen from Pap smear and vaginal discharge. Midwife perform these roles without medical law support. 3. Most of the obstacles of the midwife role was the medical law limitation. Midwives want revise medical law to perform simple treatment for childbearing women and babies. 4. Half of the midwives refer cases to medical doctor in case of complication of women and newborns. 5. Current frequency of home birth rate is slightly higher than before and me cases like to have delivery under water. Finally, midwife and midwifery have to prepare to meet childbearing woman, baby and family's need. For activation and expansion of midwife's role, every midwife has to be aware of medical law accurately and they must know what practice they can do and what practice they can not do.