• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.280-291
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• 2002

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the maternal child health services provided by public health centers in Pyungtaek city. Methods: Data were collected based on multiple sources of official records. A questionnaire survey was obtained from 50 mothers with premature babies, and 89 mothers with full- term babies, in order to compare their demographic factors, and physical, obstetrical, and emotional status. In addition, the investigators collected data on pre and post follow-up care for the remature group to evaluate the effects of home visiting services on them. Moreover, additional data were collected from 135 pregnant women and 315 mothers with infants, to assess their degree of satisfaction for prenatal education course and breast feeding practices. Results: 1) The pregnant women's satisfaction for the prenatal education course, knowledge, and practices on self care were considered to be high. 2) Of the mothers with infants, 62.9% experienced breast feeding, but only 35.9% of them did it for six months. 3) Premature birth rate in the region was 5.6%, and 75.6% of all premature babies received follow-up care. 4) The mothers with premature babies experienced premature rupture of membrane. placenta previa, preeclampsia, and cesarean section more frequently than the mothers with full-term babies. 5) At the pre-intervention data collection point. mothers with premature babies experienced significantly less social support than mothers with full-term babies. In addition, mothers with premature babies reported higher levels of stress and care-giving burdens, and lower level of self esteem, than mothers with full-term babies, although the differences were not statistically significant. 6) In the premature group, stress, care giving burdens, and postpartum depression decreased after the intervention, whereas maternal self esteem, and the husband's support were increased after the intervention. Social support from significant others were somewhat decreased. 7) Satisfaction for the home visiting service in the mothers with premature babies was very high. Conclusion: These results showed a possibility that the recently started maternal child health services provided by the public health centers may be efficient. Although statistically significant differences were not found, the investigators found a potential for changes in a positive direction. Long-term effects of the health services on maternal child health needs should be addressed in future studies.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2022

Background: Maternal Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection during pregnancy has been associated with various mental illnesses in the offspring. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a major bioactive compound obtained from ginseng that has an anti-T. gondii effect and attenuates microglial activation through toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. GRh2 also alleviated tumor-associated or lipopolysaccharide-induced depression. However, the effects and potential mechanisms of GRh2 on depression-like behavior in mouse offspring caused by maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy have not been investigated. Methods: We examined GRh2 effects on the depression-like behavior in mouse offspring, caused by maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy, by measuring depression-like behaviors and assaying parameters at the neuronal and molecular level. Results: We showed that GRh2 significantly improved behavioral measures: sucrose consumption, forced swim time and tail suspended immobility time of their offspring. These corresponded with increased tissue concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine, and attenuated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase or enhanced tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the prefrontal cortex. GRh2 ameliorated neuronal damage in the prefrontal cortex. Molecular docking results revealed that GRh2 binds strongly to both TLR4 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that GRh2 ameliorated the depression-like behavior in mouse offspring of maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy by attenuating the excessive activation of microglia and neuroinflammation through the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. It suggests that GRh2 could be considered a potential therapy in preventing and treating psychiatric disorders in the offspring mice of mothers with prenatal exposure to T. gondii infection.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify core keywords and topic groups in the "adolescent pregnancy" field of research for a better understanding of research trends in the past 10 years. Methods: Topics related to adolescent pregnancy were extracted from 3,819 articles that were published in journals between January 2013 and July 2023. Abstracts were retrieved from five databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, RISS, and KISS). Keywords were extracted from the abstracts and cleaned using semantic morphemes. Text network analysis and topic modeling were performed using NetMiner 4.3.3. Results: The most important keywords were "health," "woman," "risk," "group," "girl," "school," "service," "family," "program," and "contraception." Five topic groups were identified through topic modeling. Through the topic modeling analysis, five themes were derived: "health service," "community program for school girls," "risks for adult women," "relationship risks," and "sexual contraceptive knowledge." Conclusion: This study utilized text network analysis and topic modeling to analyze keywords from abstracts of research conducted over the past decade on adolescent pregnancy. Given that adolescent pregnancy leads to physical, mental, social, and economic issues, it is imperative to provide integrated intervention programs, including prenatal/postnatal care, psychological services, proper contraception methods, and sex education, through school and community partnerships, as well as related research studies. Nurses can play a vital role by actively engaging in prevention efforts and directly supporting and educating socially disadvantaged adolescent mothers, which could significantly contribute to improving their quality of life.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.429-435
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• 2011

Although Korean population has been growing steadily during the past four decades, the nation is rapidly becoming an aging society because of its declining birth rate combined with an increasing life expectancy. In addition, Korea has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world due to fewer married couples, advanced maternal age, and falling birth rate. The prevalence of low birth weight infants and multiple births has been increased compared with the decrease in the birth rate. Moreover, the number of congenital anomalies is expected to increase due to the advanced maternal age. In addition, the number of interracial children is expected to increase due to the rise in the number of international marriages. However, the maternal education level is high, single-mother birth rate is low, and the gender imbalance has lessened. The number of overweight babies has been decreased, as more pregnant women are receiving adequate prenatal care. Compared to the Asian average birth weight, the average birth weight is the highest in Asia. Moreover, the rate of low birth weight infants is low, and infant mortality is similarly low across Asia. Using birth data from Statistics Korea and studies of birth outcomes in Korea and abroad, this study aimed to assess the changes in maternal and infant characteristics associated with birth outcomes during the past four decades and identify necessary information infrastructures to study countermeasures the decrease in birth rate and increase in low birth weight infants in Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.142-152
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• 2013

Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between maternal fetal attachment and state anxiety for pregnant women in preterm labor. Methods: The subjects consisted of 56 pregnant women in preterm labor on C hospital. The data were analyzed using SPSS computer program that includes descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe? test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Age distribution was 30~39 years of age. Mean score of maternal fetal attachment was 91.50. The group whose planned pregnancy was highest showed higher maternal fetal attachment. The primigravida group showed high maternal fetal attachment. Most frequently practiced attachment item was: "I'm really looking forward to seeing what the baby looks like". The next was was: "I enjoy watching my tummy jiggle as the baby kicks inside". There was no difference in degree of anxiety by general and obstetrical characteristics. There was statistically significant of negative correlation between maternal fetal attachment and state anxiety for pregnant women with preterm labor. Conclusion: Findings provide useful information for further studies in reducing anxiety and intervention programs relating to pregnancy and preterm labor. To increase maternal fetal attachment of pregnant women with preterm labor, it is necessary to standardize prenatal education program.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.534-541
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to examine the actual state of influenza vaccination among pregnant women and factors affecting vaccination rate. Methods: Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Participants were pregnant women who participated in a prenatal education program at an acute care hospital in 2013. Data collected from 218 pregnant women were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 Program. Results: Only 48.6% of the pregnant women had received vaccination when the influenza was prevalent. Statistically significant factors affecting the influenza vaccination rate among pregnant women were vaccination experience in the previous year, knowledge and attitude about vaccination, and gestation period. Conclusion: Results indicate that the influenza vaccination rate among pregnant women is lower than that of elders, healthcare workers, and patients with chronic diseases, who have been considered to be the mandatory vaccination recipients. Therefore, it is necessary to develop programs and policies which provide information including safety of vaccines for pregnant women and to induce positive attitudes towards vaccination for these women, in order to ultimately improve the vaccination rate.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.290-300
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing parenting stress in primiparas. Method: The participants in this study were 198 primiparas of infants aged 1-6 months who visited well baby clinics in 5 hospitals. The data were collected from April 15 to June 15, 2003. Results: The mean score for parenting stress was 2.4 of a possible 5 and thus considered average. The score for parenting stress was significantly correlated with the level of maternal perception of the infant and the level of social support. The score for parenting stress was significantly different according to the education level of the primiparas and prenatal management. For the primiparas, social support($20\%$) and maternal perception of the infant($9\%$) were significant predictors explaining parenting stress. Conclusions: Nursing interventions to improve maternal perception of the infant and increase social support should be provided for primiparas in order to reduce parenting stress.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 1994

In Korea, breastfeeding practice has decreased since 1980's. According to the literature review, insufficient milk supply(IMS) is a major reason found by mothers for early termination of breastfeeding practice. Insufficient milk supply syndrome cannot be explained simply. IMS is a complex phenomenon that has never been adequately investigated in Korea. Using the modified IMS conceptual framework by Hill and Humenick(1989), a study was conducted at one well baby clinic located in metropolitan hospital. Approval was obtained from head of nursing service and employees ill the well baby clinic. The study sample was to restricted mothers who initiated breastfeeding and still continuously breastfeeding (n=52) and mothers who initiated breastfeeding but terminated at the time of data collection (n=39). Factor analysis suggested that Potential Determinant factors, maternal psychologic factors were : sociocultural factors, breastfeeding behaviors, breastfeeding frequency, social support, maternal education and prenatal preparation, physical and sibling support, maternal confidence, and maternal physicals which accounted for 71.12% of the variance. Using discriminant analysis those potential determinant factors predicted 72.49% of the cases accurately. These findings of research suggest that the modified IMS model is valid. But additional variables which consider Korea sociocultural factors may need to be included in future studies to determine and develop an IMS model for Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.529-538
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to identify whether the maternal-fetal attachment is related to choose the rooming-in of postpartum women. Method: This is a retrospective descriptive study. The data was collected from April 1 to May 31, 2001. Subjects who had NSVD were 68 mothers who opted the rooming-in and 98 mothers who did not choose the rooming-in at one hospital in Seoul, Korea. The research questionnaire consisted of 14 items on general characteristics, and 24 items on maternal fetal attachment developed by Cranley(1981). Result: 1. There was significant statistical difference in general characteristics between rooming-in and non rooming-in groups in prenatal class attendance, and husband attendance during the delivery. 2. There was significantly higher level of maternal fetal attachment score in the rooming-in group. 3. There was higher level of maternal fetal attachment score in the group which had participated in childbirth education than the group which didn't had participated. Conclusion: It could be concluded that the maternal fetal attachment is identified as a significant factor choosing the rooming in for postpartum women. Therefore it is needed to increase maternal fetal attachment of pregnant women before making decision for whether they choose the rooming-in or non-rooming in after delivery.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.390-398
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• 2007

Purpose: This comparative descriptive study was conducted to determine differences in maternal health related characteristics, child rearing burden, and social support depending on economic status. Method: Using home visits, data were collected from 100 poverty stricken mothers, 51 in the extremely poor group and 49 in the low income group, and 200 mothers of a general group being seen in one public health center. The instrument used for this study was a self-report questionnaire to identify maternal health variables including child rearing burden and social support. Results: Parent's education level, marital status, and primary caregiver were significantly different according to socioeconomic status. Poverty stricken groups showed poor rates for prenatal checkups, lower Fe supplementation, and more artificial abortions and history of cesarean section. Continuing breast feeding as planned was significantly lower for mothers with low economic status. Present health problems of the mother, child-rearing burden, and social support were not significantly different among the three groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest that special attention and interventions for the poverty stricken groups is important to improve maternal and child health status.