• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.82-93
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between peripheral blood leukocyte differential - Granulocyte rate, Lymphocyte rate and its calculated Granulocyte/Lymphocyte ratio - and the obstetric variables. Methods: From 270 cases of women who were in the postpartum care center attached to Won-Kwang Korean Medical Hospital, 36 cases met exclusion criteria. On the obstetric variables of 234 cases, peripheral blood leukocyte differential - Granulocyte rate, Lymphocyte rate and its calculated Granulocyte/Lymphocyte ratio - was analyzed. In the postpartum care center, the obstetric variables were asked of 234 cases of women, and who measured leukocyte differential. Results: Mean granulocyte rate and lymphocyte rate of peripheral blood leukocyte differential showed statistically significant difference from those in healthy people and was high. There was statistically significant difference in granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio according to mood of delivery, parity and period passed from childbirth. But whether postpartum women with anemia or not, maternal age and gender of neonate were not associated with granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio, and which was not significantly correlated with gestational age and neonatal birth weight. Conclusions: These findings suggest that activation of the sympathetic nervous system in postpartum women is higher than in healthy people. And granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio was influenced by mood of delivery, parity and period passed from childbirth. In future, more studies or surveys, with less bias, for the relation between peripheral blood leukocyte differential and the obstetric variables are required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.515-524
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a model to explain the transition state for Korean middle-aged women focusing on the transition concept. Method: A hypothetical model was constructed based on the transition model of Schumacher & Meleis(1994) and tested. Thehypothetical model consisted of 5 latent variables and 11 observed variables. Exogenous variables were demographic characteristics, obstetric characteristics, and health behavior. Endogenous variables were transition state and quality of life with 6 paths. The data from 221 middle-aged women selected by convenience was analyzed using covariance structure analysis. Result: The final model which was modified from the hypotheticalmodel improved to GFI=0.97, AGFI=0.94, NFI=0.94, and NNFI=0.95. The transition state was influenced directly by demographic characteristics, quality of life, and also indirectly by health behaviors. However, the influence of obstetric characteristics was not significant. The transition state was accountable for 68% of the variance by these factors. Conclusion: These results suggest that enhancing health behaviors of the women are necessary to increase quality of life and it consequently contributes toimproving the transition state. This model could be used to explain the health related vulnerability in these ages and to diagnosis individual women.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to identify associated factors in female infertility treatment using herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion. Methods: Acupuncture and moxibustion treatments were performed with intake of herbal medicines (Jokyungjongoktanggagam-bang, Sutaehwangagam-bang) for six menstrual cycles in 32 subfertile women. The variables selected for initial analysis were age, duration and type of infertility, frequency of previous In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and live births, weekly frequency of sexual intercourse, number of treatment cycles, endometrial thickness on MCD15 and hormonal parameter (anti-mullerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrone). Results: Six patients became pregnant (18.75%) and seven patients withdrew. Factors influenced pregnancy were age (${\leq}35$ years), a shorter duration of infertility (<6 years), frequency of IVF (${\leq}3$), anti-mullerian hormone level (>1 ng/ml), and number of treatment cycles(${\leq}3$ cycles). Conclusions: Korean medicine is a useful and optimized treatment option for women with younger age, fewer previous IVF cycles, shorter infertile duration and normal anti-mullerian hormone level at first 3 cycles of treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5633-5638
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• 2014

Purpose: Our research project aimed at presenting midwifery student self-assessment of performing the role of breast cancer prevention educator. Materials and Methods: Investigations were carried out in 2011 at the Medical University of Lublin in Poland, and Katolieke Hogeschool of Kortrijk in Belgium, after obtaining approval of the ethical committee of Polish Midwives Association (III/EC/2011/PMA). The project involved a total of 155 midwifery students, made up of 95 from Poland, and 60 from Belgium. Relations between opposing characteristics were tested with Chi-square ($x^2$) test for independent traits. To assess the dependence relation between the examined variables Pearson's corrected coefficient was used. Data base and statistics were carried out with computer software STATISTICA 9.0 (StatSoftPoland). Conclusions: Student knowledge on prevention against breast cancer was unsatisfactory. The students place of residence determined their self-estimation of personal knowledge of breast cancer prevention and diagnosing methods to assess the incidence of the disease, this knowledge being better with the students of Lublin. Better self-estimation in the students of Lublin of their personal knowledge on factors rising the risk of breast cancer, such as alimentation method, application of oral contraceptives and breast feeding was found than in Belgian students.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2012

Purpose: This research was done to compare obstetric pain, anxiety and cervical dilatation between an epidural analgesia group and a control group. Methods: Participants were assigned to the experimental or control group depending on their decisions for pain relief. Subjective / objective obstetric pain, anxiety level and cervical dilatation were measured and ANOVA was used for comparison of groups and paired t-test to make pre-post comparisons. Results: Homogeneity of pain, anxiety and cervical dilatation were assessed at the latent phase. Cervical dilatation was larger in the control group than the experimental group, at both the active and the transitional phase (F=22.9, p<.001; F=39.9, p<.001 respectively). The degree of pain and anxiety were not significantly different between the groups. Within the experimental group, subjective / objective pain and anxiety level were significantly lower post-analgesia compared to pre-analgesia in the active phase. All variables, except for sweating in the objective pain measurement, changed significantly at the transient phase. Conclusion: The results of this evidence-based research indicate that epidural analgesia while effective in relieving pain and anxiety may have an adverse effect on the cervix during labor stage I. Epidural analgesia should be used carefully during cervical dilatation in labor stage I.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship nursing personal and workplace system factors (work disability) and work ability index scores in Ontario, Canada. Methods: A total of 111 registered nurses were randomly selected from the total number of registered nurses on staff in the labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum areas of four northeastern Ontario hospitals. Using a stratified random design approach, 51 participants were randomly selected in four northeastern Ontario cities. Results: A total of 51 (45.9% response rate) online questionnaires were returned and another 60 (54.1% response rate) were completed using the paper format. The obstetric workforce in northeastern Ontario was predominately female (94.6%) with a mean age of 41.9 (standard deviation = 10.2). In the personal systems model, three variables: marital status (p = 0.025), respondent ethnicity (p = 0.026), and mean number of patients per shift (p = 0.049) were significantly contributed to the variance in work ability scores. In the workplace system model, job and career satisfaction (p = 0.026) had a positive influence on work ability scores, while work absenteeism (p = 0.023) demonstrated an inverse relationship with work ability scores. In the combined model, all the predictors were significantly related to work ability scores. Conclusion: Work ability is closely related to job and career satisfaction, and perceived control at work among obstetric nursing. In order to improve work ability, nurses need to work in environments that support them and allow them to be engaged in the decision-making processes.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.124-132
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• 2021

Purpose: Neonatal near miss (NNM) allows for the detection of risk factors associated with serious newborn complications and death, the prevention of which could reduce neonatal mortality. This study was conducted with the objective of identifying predictors for NNM in a tertiary hospital in Bangalore city. Methods: This was an unmatched case-control study involving 120 NNM cases and 120 controls. NNM was determined using Pileggi-Castro's pragmatic and management criteria. Data was collected from in-patient hospital records and interviews of postpartum mothers. Multiple logistic regression of exposure variables was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Significant predictors were maternal age ≥30 years (AOR, 5.32; 95% CI, 1.12 to 9.29; P=0.041), inadequate antenatal care (ANC) (AOR, 8.35; 95% CI, 1.98 to 51.12; P=0.032), <3 ultrasound scans during pregnancy (AOR, 12.5; 95% CI, 1.60 to 97.27; P=0.016), maternal anaemia (AOR, 18.96; 95% CI, 3.10 to 116.02; P=0.001), and any one obstetric complication (hypertensive disorder in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, preterm premature rupture of membranes, prolonged labour, obstructed labour, malpresentation) (AOR, 4.34; 95% CI, 1.26 to 14.95; P=0.02). Conclusion: The predictors of NNM identified has important implications for public health policy and practice whose modifications can improve NNM. These include expanding essential ANC package to include ultrasound scans, ensuring World Health Organization recommendations of eight ANC visits, capacity building at all levels of health care to strengthen routine ANC and obstetric care for effective screening, referral and management of obstetric complications.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.394-401
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• 2023

Background: Pregnancy is associated with a number of physical, emotional, and biological changes that can exacerbate maternal psychological disturbances, such as body image concerns and depression. Sleep disturbances during pregnancy can also have adverse impacts. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, sleep disturbances, and body image concerns among pregnant women. The study also examined the relationship between these factors and pregnancy-related variables, such as bad obstetric history and whether the pregnancies were unplanned. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 146 pregnant patients was conducted at a tertiary care center over 15 months. The patients were administered the Beck Depression Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Body Image Concern Inventory questionnaires. Contingency tables, Fisher exact test, and Spearman correlation were used to identify underlying relationships. Results: The prevalence of depression was 22.6%. Although body image disturbance was noted in only 2.7% of patients, 46.6% had poor sleep quality. Poor sleep was associated with primigravida status. Bad obstetric history and unplanned pregnancy were associated with depression. Depression was found to be significantly correlated with body image disturbances and poor sleep quality. Conclusion: Psychiatric disorders were prevalent during pregnancy. This study highlights the importance of screening for depression in pregnant patients. Counselling and caregiver education can be useful for mitigating psychological disturbances. Management of pregnancies by multidisciplinary teams that include psychiatrists could be immensely useful in improving the pregnancy experiences of patients.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to analyse effects that the degree of depression have on the life style variables, nutrient intake, iron indices and pregnancy outcome. Subjects were 114 pregnant women who were receiving prenatal care at a hospital in Seoul. We collected data for general characteristics and lifestyle variables from general survey instrument and for depression score from the questionnaire on depression. Dietary intakes of subjects were estimated by 24 hour dietary recall method. Also we analysed iron indices and pregnancy outcomes. We classified subjects by 10 point, which was the average depression score, into two groups [Low depression score group (LS) : High depression score group (HS)]. As to the intakes of total calcium, plant-calcium, plant-iron, potassium, total folate and dietary folate, LS group was far higher than HS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively). As to pre-pregnancy alcohol drinking, LS group had 41.9% in non-drinker, which was far higher than 28% in HS group in non-drinker (P < 0.05). As for drinking coffee during pre-pregnancy, pregnant women who don’ drink coffee in LS group took 43.6%, which was higher than 38% in HS group (P < 0.01). Regarding delivery type, the cesarean section in LS group (18%) was significantly lower than that in HS group (45%) (P < 0.01). Bivariate analysis showed that birth weight was significantly associated with the gestational age (P < 0.01). The pregnant women with higher depression score tended to have undesirable life habit, which might affect negative pregnancy outcomes. A better understanding of how depression and intake of nutrients work together to modulate behavior will be benefit nutritional research.