• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2019

Purpose: To identify needs for pregnancy and postpartum adaptation of Chinese immigrant women and Vietnamese immigrant women in South Korea. Methods: A descriptive research design was employed. Data were collected from 244 Chinese immigrant women and Vietnamese immigrant women from 3 provinces, 20 health care centers, and multi-cultural family support centers. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. Results: An average score for needs perceived by Chinese immigrant women was significantly higher than that perceived by Vietnamese immigrant women. There were significantly differences in physical and emotional adaptation after childbirth, nutrition during pregnancy, cross cultural understanding and personal respect, and adaptation daily activity during pregnancy between the 2 groups. The highest score of needs in Chinese immigrant women was for nutrition during pregnancy and that in Vietnamese immigrant women was for baby rearing and family support. Conclusion: Based on needs of pregnancy and postpartum adaption, nursing intervention program in consideration of cultural characteristics of Chinese immigrant women and Vietnam immigrant women need to be developed for their pregnancy and postpartum health care.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2007

Purpose: This study examined the effects of foot-reflexology massage on body weight, lower extremity edema, and serum lipids in postpartum women. Method: This study was a nonequivalent control-group pretest-posttest design. Postpartum women were assigned to the experimental group (n=16) or a control group (n=15). Foot reflexology massage was applied 5 times a week, for a total of 2 weeks to the experimental group. The tool for measuring lower extremity edema was the girth of the thigh, and the calf. The measuring tool for serum lipids was total cholesterol and TG in blood serum by clinical process. Data was analyzed by $x^2$-test, t-test, and paired t-test, ANOVA using SPSS/Win PC 14.0. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in levels of TG in blood serum in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Foot reflexology massage is a useful nursing intervention that decreases serum lipids level in postpartum women. Therefore foot reflexology massage is recommended as a nursing intervention strategy for serum lipids reduction in postpartum women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.242-253
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to assess immigrant women's needs for pregnancy and postpartum adaptation and to test the reliability and validity of the scale. Methods: To construct scale items, critical issues and difficulties associated with pregnancy and postpartum adaptation of immigrant women were identified and categorized through a literature review. Fifty-two scale items were constructed, and data for validity and reliability testing was collected with a questionnaire survey from 367 immigrant women. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and reliability coefficients. Results: The final measurement scale to assess immigrant women's pregnancy and postpartum adaptation consisted of 48 items and 7 factors (adaptation to daily activity during pregnancy, cross-cultural understanding and personal respect, understanding of the process of pregnancy and delivery, baby rearing and family support, physical and emotional adaptation after childbirth, nutrition during pregnancy, and sexual life adaptation). The seven factors accounted for 64.26% of the variance, and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was .96. Conclusion: The scale developed by this study is a reliable and valid instrument and can be used to assess needs of pregnancy and postpartum adaptation and can be utilized in providing nursing interventions for immigrant women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.210-220
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• 2017

Purpose: The aims of the study were to develop mobile application for postpartum care of first-time mothers and to validate it's effect. Methods: Using a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design, 52 first-time mothers were recruited (26 each in experimental and control) and the experimental group used the mobile application for 6 weeks after delivery. Postpartum self-care knowledge and confidence, infant care knowledge and confidence, and postpartum depressive mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) were measured before discharge from the hospital and 6 weeks later. Results: Women who have used the postpartum care mobile application reported higher levels of postpartum self-care knowledge (p=.030) and confidence (p=.023) infant care knowledge (p=.001) and confidence (p=.004), while scores of postpartum depression (p=.021) were lower than those in the control group. Conclusion: The postpartum-care mobile application developed in this research may be effective in reinforcing knowledge and confidence for postpartum self-care and infant care and in reducing postpartum depressive mood.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.358-371
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to provide the basic, data for developing a program for effective prevention for Postpartum Depression (PPD) by investigating the level of PPD in postpartum 2 weeks women. The subjects were 384 women who visited obstetrical clinics for postnatal care. The data were collected from June 29. 1999 to April. 2000, using a 46-item questionnaire related to PPD, and analyzed by SAS program for t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, stepwise multiple regressions. The results were as follows : 1. The level of PPD according to general characteristics Women had mild PPD (Min score; 46.0, Max score; 124.0). The PPD levels were significantly differences according to religion and marital satisfaction (p<0.05). 2. The level of PPD according to obstetrical characteristics 1) Characteristics related to pregnancy The PPD levels were significantly differences according to mood change, confidence of body weight recovery, depression related to appearance change, husband's help to housework, and husband's emotional support (p<0.05). 2) Stressful events during pregnancy The PPD levels were significantly differences according to financial problem, conflict between partners, conflict between family, and husband's job change (p<0.05). 3) Characteristics related to delivery and post natal period The PPD levels were significantly differences according to baby's health state, parenting confidence, and difficulties related to postpartum care (p<0.05). 3. The variables to predict postpartum depression in postpartum women are depression related to appearance change (10.4%), parenting confidence (8.8%), husband's help to housework (2.7%), confidence of body weight recovery (2.4%), husband's job change (1.9%), baby's health state (1.9%), difficulties related to postpartum care (1.6%), mood change (1.2%), conflict between partners (0.6%), marital satisfaction (0.5%), financial problem (0.4%). The sum total of all the above variables can account for 32.4% of postpartum depression. 4. The level of PPD according to PPD factors. Women had the highest degree of PPD in biophysiological phenomena-disturbance of physical functioning factor. The factors of relationship to baby-negative feeling and cognitive phenomena-self concept disturbance were showed the lowest degree of PPD. As a result of the above findings, a systemic and individualized program is strongly recommended for PPD prevention, diagnosis, and care for PPD in postpartum women. In near future, this study should be expanded to investigate the coping skills according to the PPD levels in postpartum women.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.323-330
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the maternal functioning and related factors among early postpartum women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 243 women recruited from three women's hospitals. Participants completed a structured questionnaire in on-line or off-line between 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS for Windows ver. 25.0. Results: The mean score for the maternal functioning was 73.28±16.78 out of 120 points. Maternal functioning was associated with postpartum depression (r=-.57 p<.001), and spousal and family support (r=.54, p<.001). According to the stepwise multiple regression, postpartum depression (β=-0.43, p<.001), spouse and family support (β=0.39, p<.001), employment (β=0.12, p=.012) and delivery method (β=-0.10 p=.026) had a significant relationship with the maternal functioning among postpartum women. These variables had an explanatory power of 49.0% for maternal functioning. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop and implement a maternal intervention program focused on alleviating postpartum depression and improving spouse and family support. This study will be the starting point for various studies by identifying the maternal functioning of postpartum women for the first time in Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2011

Purpose: This study aimed to examine postpartum depression of Vietnamese married immigrant women and Korean women, and to identify factors that affect postpartum depression. Methods: Subjects of one hundred and thirty-five women who had delivered a baby within 3 years were part of the study. Of these women, sixty were Vietnamese married immigrant women and sixty seven were Korean women living in Gangwon Province. Kim's (2005) Korean version of Cox's (1987) EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) was used to evaluate postpartum depression. The reliability of the entire subjects was Cronbach's ${\alpha}$=.677, Vietnamese women .743, and Korean women .654. Results: There were significant differences between the two groups in demographic data and obstetric history. There were significant differences in EPDS (t=-0.236, p=.814) of the type of household between the two groups. Korean women experienced more depression in the items of EPDS 1,2,5, and Vietnamese women experienced more depression in the items of EPDS 7, 8, and 10 when comparing item by item. The influencing factors of EPDS in entire subjects were marriage type, satisfaction of relationship with the husband and other household extended family members, and emotional experience during pregnancy. Conclusion: Postpartum depression has occurred regardless of ethnicity, therefore prevention programs targeted at depression, and family support programs should be developed for all childbearing women.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2007

Purpose: During postpartum period, many women complain multiple pain, sweating, cold hypersensitivity, abdominal pain, hot flush and so on. We called the postpartum disease as San Hu Pung. The San Hu Pung could related with dysautonomia. So we studied the character of the postpartum disease patients as heart rate variability(H.R.V) Methods: The subjects were 63 women who visited Kangnam Kyunghee hospital for postpartum management from February 2006 to June 2007. From history taking, 42 symptomatic women was divided at the postpartum disease group, 21 asymptomatic women was divided at the control group. All women was measured HRV, we studied the difference of HRV between two group. Results: Compared with the control group, SDNN of the disease group was significant low. TP, LF and HF of the disease group were significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion: The difference of HRV between the disease group and the control group was significant. The results of HRV on the disease group could mean that San hu pung is related dysautonomia. The more studies to diagnose San hu pung would be needed.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2011

Purpose :To analyze body composition in postpartum women with cold-hypersensitivity, their edema index, skelectal muscle's weight and body fat were measured and analyzed with cold hypersensitive postpartum women compared with those of non-cold hypersensitivity. Methods : We studied 38 postpartum women visiting Gangnam Kyung-Hee Korean Hospital from 1 st October 2010 to 30th september 2011. they were subjected to Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging and those with thermal difference greater than $0.3^{\circ}C$ between anterior forearm and center of hand were diagnosed with cold hypersensitivity. Cold hypersensitivity group were consisted of 11 women, the other were consisted of 26 women. All of them were measured Edema index, skelectal muscle's weight and body fat by Inbody720(body composition scanner). We studied the difference of Body composition factor between two groups and relationship between cold-hypersensitivity, Edema index, skelectal muscle's weight and body fat by Independent Samples T-test and Spearman Correlation. Results : No significant differences were observed in edema index, skelectal muscle's weight and body fat between two groups. Conclusion : There was no significant relationship among the Cold-hypersensitivity and Body composition factor(Edema index, skelectal muscle's weight. body fat). But furthemore large scale study is required.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.33-45
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the tendency toward depression and fatigue in early postpartum women and to determine the relationship between the symptoms of these conditions, according to the women's Sasang constitutions. Methods: In this study, 73 healthy postpartum women were analyzed according to Sasang constitution: 33 Taeeumin, 22 Soyangin, and 18 Soeumin. Symptoms of depression and fatigue were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-K(EPDS-K) and the Fatigue Continuum Form(FCF), respectively, on the fourth(time 1), seventh(time 2), and fifteenth(time 3) days postpartum. Sasang constitutional types were determined by a medical specialist, using results from the Two Step Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Diagnosis(TS-QSCD). Results: 1. The overall depressive symptoms and fatigue scores decreased significantly over time in early postpartum women. 2. The mean scores for the EPDS and FCF were higher in the Soeumin group than in other groups. The scores for EPDS and FCF dropped sharply in comparison to a former level in the Soyangin group. And the mean EPDS score was lower in the Soyangin group than in other groups. The EPDS and FCF scores in the Taeeumin group changed slightly over time. However, these results were not statistically significant according to Sasang constitution. 3. The relationship between postpartum depression and fatigue showed a significant positive correlation. Conclusions: These results suggest that, in early postpartum women, depressive symptoms and fatigue differ according to Sasang constitution.