• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.65-78
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the weight change of the high-risk group and the general maternal group and weight-relating factors in the early postpartum period. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of those who received postpartum care from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, in the postpartum care center affiliated with one Korean Medicine hospital. A total of 257 postpartum women's medical charts were included and divided into the high-risk group and the general maternal group. We investigated the weight changes and Body mass index (BMI) of the postpartum women and compared the difference between the two groups after taking the postpartum care. Finally, we used a Pearson correlation analysis to identify the weight-relating factors in the early postpartum period. Results: All the postpartum women showed the following results; 33.81±4.03 years old as the mean age; 22.23±3.28 as pre-pregnancy BMI; 58.21±9.18 kg of pre-pregnancy weight increased into 70.75±9.70 kg in the last month of pregnancy. Of the total 257 patients, 149 (58.0%) of high-risk pregnancy experience and 108 (42.0%) of general pregnancy were included. The edema index right after childbirth was significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the general maternal group (p<0.001), but there was no significant difference in BMI. After treatment with Korean medicine treatments, body weight, BMI, and edema index decreased significantly in both groups (p<0.01). As a result of correlation analysis, weight gain during pregnancy had a significant negative correlation with pre-pregnancy weight and pre-pregnancy BMI and a significant positive correlation with weight and BMI of the last month of pregnancy. In particular, pre-pregnancy BMI and body weight showed a significant negative correlation only in the high-risk group. Postpartum weight loss was significantly positively correlated with pre-pregnancy weight, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight & BMI of the pregnancy last month, weight gain during pregnancy, and decrease in edema (p<0.01) Conclusions: The weight during pregnancy of the high-risk group increased in inverse proportion to the pre-pregnancy BMI. The level of edema right after childbirth was significantly higher than that of the general maternal group, but showed a significant decrease after 2 weeks of Korean medicine treatments. Although it implicates the need for active Korean medicine treatments in the early postpartum period, further studies with controlled groups are needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.432-447
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• 1994

Koreans are one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in America. Adjsting to life in foreign country produces a great deal of stress. Differences in culture, language, expectation and social behavior can lead to misunderstandings. The pregnancy and delivery event is one of maturational crisis in life cycle. The purpose of this research was to understand the structure of the lived experience of pregnant women and postpartum mothers who had immigrated to the United States. The research question was "What is the structure of the experience of pregnant women and postpartal mothers?" The sample consisted of 16 women registrated at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of one local clinic in Hawaii. The unstructured interviews were carried out from Jnuary 5, through January, 30, 1994. They were audio-recorded and analyzed using Van Kaam's method. There are different views on the causative factors of stress. Maladjustement to the immigrant life, spousal conflicts, anxiety related to bringing up the bay and conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are considered to be related factors. The experiences of pregnant women over the period of the pregnancy can be varied and can include change of body image, emotional and physical change. The experiences of postpartum mothers over the postpartum period can be varied and can include postpartum depression emotional irritability, fear related to bringing up the baby and disappointment with husband. Positive experiences over the period of pregnancy and postpartum were the strengthen-ing beliefs. Sources of support were, first, spouse then mother and faith. Support was also received from the physician in charge and through self-control. The nurse, by providing empathetic support, should be a person with whom they can express their feelings and share their experiences.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2007

This study is to evaluate the factors that affect to the bone mineral density(BMD) of postpartum women by comparing BMD between postpartum and general women who are ages from 20 to 39, and to identify correlation between various factors weight, height, body mass index(BMI), hemoglobin(Hb) and BMD. Study subjects were postpartum(n=159) and general(n=180) women. We checked the BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine by using dual energy X-ray bone densitometry. The mean age was $30.69{\pm}3.32$ in postpartum care group and $31.22{\pm}5.66$ in general women group. In postpartum care group, the mean BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine were -0.187 and -0.076. In general women group, the mean BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine were -0.029, and -0.169. According to BMI level, each group was divided into two subgroups. One was 23 or more BMI subgroup, and the other was under 23 BMI subgroup. There was a significant difference in BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine between two subgroups in general women group, but only a significant difference in BMD of lumbar spine is noted between two subgroups of postpartum group. According to Hb level, each group was divided into two subgroups. One was 11g/dl or more subgroup, and the other was under 11g/dl subgroup. There was not a statistically significant difference of BMD in all subgroups. BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine showed a significant correlation with weight, height, BMI in both groups. There was a significant correlation between BMD and Hb level in postpartum care group, but a significant correlation was not noted in general women group. The postpartum women showed a significant correlation between BMD and various factors such as weight, height, BMI just like in general women. There was a significant correlation between BMD and Hb in postpartum women, but not in general women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.261-269
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate health management state during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum of immigrant women. Methods: A descriptive research design was employed. Data were collected from 182 immigrant women who lived in four provinces and D city. Subjects were completed the following questionnaires: demographic, medical service use, pregnancy and childbirth, and health management during the ante-postpartum. Results: The average age of subjects was 28.96 and 83 subjects (45.6%) were coming from Vietnam. 55 Subjects (30.2%) were within the low-income group with less than 4 million won per month. So, 62 subjects were uninsured women because of the expensive costs. Subjects mainly visited a health care center with their husband. On the using a health care center, subjects complained about communication difficulties and transportation problems. 42 Subjects were pregnant but 21.4% of pregnant subjects did not receive ante-natal care. Subjects got information about pregnancy and childbirth through their husbands and husband's family. Conclusion: Nursing intervention to manage the pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum of immigrant women need to be developed and should include strategies to take care of themselves after delivery and provide knowledge and information about ante-postpartum.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.67-83
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• 1998

A quasi-experiment, repeated measures design with non-equivalent control group was used to test the influence of cold therapy on the perineal discomfort and the healing state of the postpartum women undergoing vaginal delivery with episiotomy. Experiment was carried out from July 28, through October 2, 1996 with 40 postpartum women conveniently sampled from one university hospital located in Seoul. The 40 postpartum women undergoing vaginal delivery with episiotomy were as signed to experimental and control groups evenly(20 each). The instrument of measurement of perineal discomfort was 0-10 rating scale that was made by researcher and that of perineal healing state was Davidson's REEDA tool. The perineal discomfort and the healing state level were measured before and after each treatment. The treatment using ice glove that was given for the only experimental group was carried out at three points ; as soon as returning to the recovery room, 3 hours after returning to the recovery room and 6 hours after returning to the recovery room. The data was analysed by using t-test, chi-square test to determine the similarity between experimental and control groups. The hypotheses were tested using repeated measures ANOVA. The results of this study are summarized as follows; 1. The first hypothesis that the perineal discomfort level of the experimental group will be significantly lower than that of the control group(df(1,38), F=24.12, p=.0001) was supported. 2. The second hypothesis that the perineal healing state of the experimental group wil be better than that of the control group(df(1,38), F=0.48, p=.49) was not supported. Based on the results of this study, could therapy was turned out to have significant effect on the perineal discomfort of the postpartum women undergoing vaginal delivery with episiotomy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of aroma inhalation on fatigue and quality of sleep of postpartum mothers. Method: The study design was a non-equivalent control group pre-post design. 51 Postpartum mothers were assigned either to a control group or to an experimental group that was exposed to aromas through inhalation for 6 days. Subjects in the experimental group were instructed to wear a necklace filled with Lavender and Eucalyptus oil from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM every day. Fatigue was measured using the Rhoten Fatigue Scale. Sleep duration, night arousal frequency and sleep satisfaction were used to assess the quality of sleep. Result: There was a significant difference in the score of fatigue following the treatment between the experimental and control groups (t=-2.79 p=.00). However, there was no significant difference in sleep duration, frequency of night arousal and sleep satisfaction following aroma inhalation between two groups. Conclusion: This intervention appears to be effective in reducing the fatigue in postpartum mothers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2007

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of breast feeding and maternal psychosocial predictors affecting the breast feeding practice at six months postpartum. Method: One hundred and sixty one mothers at six months postpartum were conveniently recruited in two public health center in Jeju-city. Subjects completed a well-structured questionnaire regarding the feeding types of the child, maternal self-esteem, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), husband support, and marital adjustment scale. The data was analyzed using the $X^2-test$, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and logistic regression. Result: The prevalence of breast feeding at six months postpartum was 29.9%. Predictors of breast feeding practice identified by the logistic regression analysis include first feeding type after delivery, marital adjustment, readiness for maternal role and work state. Conclusion: The prevalence of breast feeding practice was lower than WHO desired at six months postpartum. Therefore, the findings support the need for breast feeding education including interventions focused on improving readiness for maternal role and marital adjustment.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.27-35
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• 2001

Objective : Doctors who treat women in childbed have to pay attention to postpartum blues and depression which women in childbed can suffer from, as well as recovery of physical function. Methods : Subjects were 107 females who admitted in Woosuk Hospital of Oriental Medicine from September, 2000 to October, 2001 and made out the question paper within 10 days after delivery. The paper included EPDS(Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and many items known to be the factors related to postpartum blues and depression. Results : The rate of postpartum depression assessed by EPDS was 16.8%. As the result of analysis, there were significant statistic corelations between each group assessed by EPDS and age parity relation with husband yes or no living with parents-in-law. But there were no significant corelations between each group assessed by EPDS and education religion yes or no occupation delivery method sex of infant marriage type yes or no rearing the infant. Conclusions : We recognized that insufficiency- of delivery experience and stress due to bad adaptation after delivery are possible to be risk factors of postpartum blues and depression. More research should be taken on the corelation between postpartum depression and yes or no living with parents-in-law, because this result is opposite to the trouble between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. In addition, more research is needed on corelation between physical condition, oriental-diagnosis of women in childbed and postpartum depression.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2018

Purpose: Postpartum fatigue can impact maternal well-being and has been associated with levels of perceived self-care. This study aimed to examine the relationship among fatigue, depressive mood, self-care agency, and self-care action among postpartum women in Bangladesh. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey was done with 124 first-time mothers from two tertiary hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Modified Fatigue Symptoms checklist, Denyes' Self Care Instrument, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and items on sociodemographic and delivery-related characteristics, were used in Bengali via translation and back-translation process. Results: High fatigue levels were found in 18.5% (n=23) and 73.4% had possible depression (n=91). There was a significant negative relationship between fatigue and self-care agency (r=-.31, p<.001), and self-care action (r=-.21, p<.05). Fatigue differed by level of self-care agency (t=4.06, p<.001), self-care action (t=2.36, p=.023), newborn's APGAR score (t=-2.93, p=.004), parental preparation class participation (F=15.53, p<.001), and postpartum depressive mood (t=-4.64, p<.001). Conclusion: Findings suggest that high level of self-care efficacy and behaviors can contribute to fatigue management, and highlight the need for practical interventions to better prepare mothers for postpartum self-care, which may, in turn, alleviate postpartum fatigue.

• 모자간호학회지
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 1994

Presently there is an increasing demand for home health care services due to changes in the demographic structure as a result of an increasing elderly population, socio-economic improvements, and changes in the family structure, as well as the growing number of people with degenerative diseases. In addition to these reasons, rising medical costs and there a shortage of patient beds space in the hospital, particularly since introduction of national medical insurance. There has been an increasing demand for health care health care services. This study was done to identify the basic data for home health care management. It focused on developing client selection criteria, assessment tools, and recording methods. This was accomplished by the researchers visiting the patients in their homes. The research process included preparation investigation, tool development, training of the project researcher, and visiting the clients in their homes. The research tools are as follows : 1. Record development : a) The selection criteria tool for home health care of postpartum women was a structured tool and consisted of four parts. b) The structured assessment tool consisted of a general items, obstetric history, past medical history, methods of feeding, medications taken before admission, laboratory test results, discharge instructions, discharge medications, family tree, economic status, environmental status, a map, health assessment of postpartum women and their newborns. c) The visit note I consisted of the frequency of visits. Visit note II consisted of the date ; nursing problems ; nursing process including the initial assessment ; nursing goal ; visit plan ; postpartum women and their neonate health status, diagnosis, goal, implementation, evaluation, summary, next plan, for visit revision. d) Problem note consisted of the date, problem numbers, nursing diagnosis, problem appearance date problem resolution date. The research results are as follows : 1. Nursing problems : The nursing problems of the postpartum women and their neonates were evaluated by the number of nursing diagnoses and the change in the pattern of nursing diagnosis related to the number of visits. a) Nursing diagnosis The nursing diagnosis was classified according to physical function, psychosocial function, family system maintained function. b) The changes of nursing diagnosis related to the number of visits. As the type of nursing diagnosis changed related to the number of visits the number of nursing diagnoses decreased. 2. Contents of home health care : The content was categorized according to assessment, direct care, counseling, education, family care, reporting to with the attending doctor. The recommendations based on the research results are as follows : 1. Tool development Replication of this study is needed to test the validity of the assessment tools used. 2. Home visit a) Home health care nurses should be licensed and qualified. A referral form from the attending doctor is needed for legal protection of nurses. b) The first home visit need to be within 24 hours of discharge from the hospital to decrease the anxiety of frightened postpartum women. c) When the changes occur in the newborn's status, home health care nurses should consult a pediatrician. Communication within the home healthcare team is essential and needs to consistent and done smoothly. 3. Home health care A Study is required to develop protocols for education of staff and for operation of all aspects of this program.