• The Korean Nurse
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.85-98
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• 1995

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data regarding effective learning opportunities in childbirth education classes. Also analysis of the data indicates the optimum conditions for the welfare and improvements in the promotion of health in childbearing mothers. The results of this study are as follows; 1) The average age of the subjects in this study was 30.6 years and the total number of subjects was 58 pregnant women. The average number of children was one and 84.5% of the subjects were unemployed even though 63.8% of them held over bachelor's degrees. It was found that 22.4% of the subjects were living in an extended family. Also 61.5% of them were living with parents-in-law. The number of pregnancies were calssified as one, two, or three to nine times with the percentages of 58.7%, 22.4% and 18.9%, respectively. Further, 72.4% of the subjects had no abortion experience and 15.5% had one aborion experience. While 89.7% of the subjects planned to feed their babies with breastmilk, mixed feeding were used by only 22.4% of the sample. These data were collected at about 6 months after delivery. Thus one can see that a low rate of breastfeeding was common. 2) The length of one period of childbirth education is four weeks. It was found that 36.2% of the subjects participated in childbirth education only once, where as 13.8% participated four times and 19% of the subjects participated in this class more than four times. pregnant at least once. Further, 75.9% of the participants were participated in this education through their own will. Their motivation for participation developed through information, advertisement and posters which contained information on childbirth education. Those with unplanned pregnancies 92.9% participated after a suggestion by the nurses. The number of participants in terms of percentage according to the childbirth education contents can be classified as following. The most active participation was shown in preparation of delivery(77.6%), postpartrm management(56.9%) fetal development(37.6%) and physiology of pregnancy(17.2%). It was found that 75.9% of the subjects were willing to participate again if they were given a chance. The reason can be summarized as following: The content of the education is very helpful(47.7%). Scientific knowledge can be obtained through this program(20.5%). Participation helps in achieving psychological stability(9.1%). Participation enables one to establish a friendly relationship with other participants(6.8%) of the sample. 24.1% of the participants did not want to participate again. The reasons can be as following: They do not want another baby(42.9%). The first paricipation in childbirth education gave enough knowledge about childbirth(21.4%). Another reason for not want to participate again was because they had a cesarean birth(14.3%). Only 7.1% of them responded with a negative view. A response that they do not need childbirth education after their operation can be traced back to the general belief that childbirth education is the place where one prepares for natural birth through the Lamaze breathing technique. Of the subjects, 91.4% suggested that this program could be recommended to other childbearing mothers, because this program gave educational content along with psychological stability for childbearing women. Of the subjects 41.4% did not see any efforts towards the welfare of the baby, where as 88.2% did. Among the subjects 58.6% made some effort to eliminate the discomfort of labor by breathing and imagination and breathing and walking. Further 41.7% of the 24 subjects did not do anything toward the welfare of the baby, because they did have a cesarean section so that they didn't have a chance even though they had been educated about childbirth. Also 33.3% of the subjects did not do anything toward the welfare of the baby, because they lacked a willingness. After leaving the hospital, only 75.9% of the subjects did some exercises. The subjects who tried participate this program with their husband accounted for 20.7% of the sample. Interviewing with the subjects solved some of the uneasiness and. fear of delivery, increased self-confidence in parenting and active coping in the delivery process.