• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.444-450
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• 2011

Purpose: Mothers' postpartum depression is a worldwide health concern that produces compromising effects on their infants. This study was conducted to compare the infants' temperament and health problems according to the presence of maternal postpartum depression. Methods: Data were collected from May to October in 2009. The sample was 137 mothers at one month postpartum. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Results: At one month postpartum, 22.6% of mothers were classified as having postpartum depression. Infants of depressed mothers were more frequently classified as difficult temperament infants. They showed lower scores on the amenability, rhythmicity and persistency and higher scores on activity in temperament. Also, infants of depressed mothers reported more infant health problems at one months. Maternal depression showed significant negative correlations with family functioning, social support and marital satisfaction. Conclusion: Study findings show that postpartum maternal depression is associated with infants' temperament and health, and thus screening and early interventions for postpartum depression would promote the health of both the mother and infant.

• 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.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.191-200
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that may affect quality of life of mothers who delivered premature infants. Methods: With survey design, data were collected from 145 mothers of premature infants with corrected age of 2 months to 12 months from January 9 to February 2, 2017. Quality of life was assessed with two measures of direct survey in the selected hospital and online survey. A self-report questionnaire was administered regarding personality of the mothers and the infants, postpartum depression, parenting stress, social support, and the quality of life. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The quality of life of the mothers of the premature infants was influenced by postpartum depression, parenting stress, parents-infant dysfunctional interactions, and social support accounted for 65% of the variance. Conclusion: These results indicate that early screening and continuous management of postpartum depression during postpartum period are important to improve the quality of life of the mothers of the premature infants. Education program and information and social support systems need to be developed to monitor mother-infant interaction and their role development.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.326-336
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• 2021

Purpose: This study explored the prevalence of prenatal and postpartum depression in Korea and its influencing factors from 20 weeks of pregnancy to 12 weeks postpartum. Methods: Using a prospective cohort study design, data on women's depression and its influencing factors were collected at 20, 28, and 36 weeks of pregnancy and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks postpartum. The participants were 219 women and 181 spouses during pregnancy; and 183 mothers and 130 spouses after childbirth. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and influencing factors were measured by the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised, parity, and spousal depression. Results: The prevalence of maternal depression was 10.5% to 21.5% before birth, and it was 22.4% to 32.8% postpartum. The prevalence slightly decreased during the prenatal period but peaked at 2 weeks postpartum. Antenatal depression was influenced by low socioeconomic status, lower self-esteem, having experienced prenatal depression, having experienced prenatal anxiety, a previous history of depression, lower social support, lower marital satisfaction, and higher life stress. The factors influencing postpartum depression were lower self-esteem, having experienced prenatal depression, having experienced prenatal anxiety, lower social support, lower marital satisfaction, and higher life stress, as well as infant temperament and maternal blues. Parity and spousal depression had no impacts. Conclusion: The prevalence and influencing factors of maternal depression changed over time. Nurses need to screen women accordingly during the perinatal period and should provide education or counseling to prevent depression and promote adjustment to parenthood.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 2013

Purpose: This prospective cohort study was done to investigate recall bias to antepartum variables measured at postpartum periods and predictors of postpartum depression. Methods: Participants were 215 women who answered a self-administered questionnaire which included demographics, Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised and Korean version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale at antepartum 36-40 weeks and postpartum 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using kappa, and hierarchical multiple logistic regression. Results: Agreement between antepartum variables at both antepartum and two postpartum periods was relatively high (${\kappa}$=.55- .95). Postpartum depression rates were 36.3% and 36.7% at two follow-up points. In hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, prenatal depression (OR=4.32, 95% CI: 1.41-13.19; OR=5.19, 95% CI: 1.41-19.08), social support (OR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.18-1.66; OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.06-1.53) and maternity blues (OR=4.75, 95% CI: 1.89-11.98; OR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.60-11.12) were commonly associated with postpartum depression at two follow-up points. Child care stress (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.01-3.37) was only associated with postpartum depression at 2 weeks postpartum and pregnancy intendedness (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.09-2.27) was only associated with postpartum depression at 6 weeks postpartum. Conclusions: The results indicate a need to apply nursing interventions such as prenatal education and counseling with families from antenatal period.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.307-317
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and test the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Perinatal Infant Care Social Support (K-PICSS) for postpartum mothers. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. The K-PICSS was developed through forward-backward translation. Online survey data were collected from 284 Korean mothers with infants 1-2 months of age. The 19-item K-PICSS consists of functional and structural domains. The functional domain of social support measures infant care practices of postpartum mothers. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and known-group comparison were used to verify the construct validity of the K-PICSS. Social support and postpartum depression were also measured to test criterion validity. Psychometric testing was not applicable to the structural social support domain. Results: The average age of mothers was 32.76±3.34 years, and they had been married for 38.45±29.48 months. Construct validity was supported by the results of EFA, which confirmed a three-factor structure of the scale (informational support, supporting presence, and practical support). Significant correlations of the K-PICSS with social support (r=.71, p<.001) and depression (r=-.40, p<.001) were found. The K-PICSS showed reliable internal consistency, with Cronbach's α values of .90 overall and .82-.83 in the three subscales. The vast majority of respondents reported that their husband or their parents were their main sources of support for infant care. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the K-PICSS has satisfactory construct validity and reliability to measure infant care social support in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to discern the level of satisfaction of postpartum care in hospitals. the level of importance of traditional postpartum care and the need for home health care for postpartum women. The study's design was to obtain data needed to develop a community-based postpartum care program and to improve the quality of nursing for postpartum care recipients. Data for the study was collected from 1 March to 31 June 2000 from 116 postpartum care recipients treated in Chung-Buk, Korea. Data analysis consisted of frequency, percentage, t-test, and ANOVA. using SPSS win program. The results the of analysis were as follows: 1) The level of satisfaction of postpartum care in the hospital (mean 1.31) was very low. The most laudable items of nursing care by category were: moderate satisfaction with 'perineal wound care' (2.04) and 'afterpain observation'(2.09). The overall level of satisfaction of postpartum care in the hospital. however, was very low. 2) Among other items of postpartum care in the hospital, 'postpartum exercise' $(25.9\%)$. 'assessment and support for postpartum depression' $(25.9\%)$, 'operation wound care for women who underwent Caesarean sections' $(24.5\%)$. and 'contraception and family planning' $(20.4\%)$ showed a need for home health care for postpartum care recipients above $20\%$. 3) The level of importance of traditional postpartum care (Sanhujori) was relatively high (mean 2.72). The importance of Sanhujori by category was as followed: 'the fourth principle: protecting the body from harmful strains' was the highest (2.88), 'the third principle: eating well', 'the first principle: invigorating the body by augmenting heat and avoiding cold', 'the second principle: resting without working', 'the fifth principle: keeping clean' and 'the sixth principle: handling with the whole heart' showed 2.85, 2.80, 2.70, 2.51 and 2.46 respectively. 4) The need for home health care with Sanhujori was very low. 5) The relationship between demographic factors and the level of satisfaction with postpartum care in the hospital was as follows: the satisfaction levels were significantly different among' delivery frequency' and 'health status' alteration after delivery'. 6) The relationship between demographic factors and the importance of the Sanhujori category was as follows: There were no significant differences in the level of importance of the first and the forth principle of Sanhujori. The level of importance of the second principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'income' and 'family type'. The level of importance of the third principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'having a boy'. The level of importance of the fifth principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'income' and 'feeding type'. The level of importance of the sixth principle of Sanhujori was significantly different among 'education background' and 'feeding type'. In conclusion. the findings of this study illustrate the nursing needs of postpartum care recipients. It provides a challenge to caregivers in the healthcare industry to develop a continuous postpartum care program and integrative postpartum care system that embodies the oriental and western paradigm for the promotion of women's health.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the influencing factors of mothers' confidence in their maternal role during the early postpartum period. Methods: Participants were 178 postpartum women who delivered at three specialized obstetrics and gynecology facilities and used the postpartum care facility in city B. Data were collected from February to April, 2012 using the scales of measurements of self-confidence in maternal role performance, maternal self-esteem, mother-to-infant attachment, social support, and childcare stress. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression were used with the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program to analyze the data. Results: The scores for self-confidence in the maternal role showed significant negative correlations with the scores of childcare stress (r=-.40, p<.001). Parity and maternal attachment were significant predictors and accounted for 97.4% of the variance in self-confidence in the maternal role. Conclusion: To strengthen self-confidence in the maternal role of early postpartum mothers, prenatal class programs need to be complemented in order to reduce childcare stress and promote mother-to-infant attachment.

• 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.