Korean J Perinatol.  2014 Sep;25(3):159-165. 10.14734/kjp.2014.25.3.159.

Current Status and Availability of Specialized Maternity Non-Standard Room for Delivering Mothers

• Yoon JW
• Han SW
• Lee SH
• Jung YS
• Kim JM
• Kim EH

• KMID: 2280989
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/kjp.2014.25.3.159

Abstract

PURPOSE
Demand of specialized maternity ward is increasing as national income level rises. However, the National Health Insurance limits the number of hospital's non-standard room to less than 50% of total hospital beds. Therefore, this research was performed to investigate the utilization rate of non-standard room among the Korean women who recently delivered baby in medical facilities in order to examine the factors affecting their selection.
METHODS
One hundred sixty six medical facilities which deliver a minimum of ten cases in 2011 were selected and categorized by type, region, and size. A cross-sectional survey was done in November 2012 by a professional research survey company. Eight hundred and two pregnant women answered the questionnaire through a face-to-face interview.
RESULTS
Of the 802 expecting mothers, 690 (86%) occupied non-standard room and 684 (85.2%) preferred non-standard room to the standard room. Satisfaction levels were significantly higher in mothers occupying non-standard room [5.9+/-1.0 vs. 5.4+/-1.2 (0-7 scale), P<0.01] and high-income families used non-standard room more often. Reasons for using non-standard room included adequate convalescence (78%), separate place for breastfeeding (6.1%), and convenience on receiving visitors (5.4%). Preference for non-standard room on next visit was higher in case of delivery compared to other cause of hospitalization (81.8% vs. 44.9%, P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Preference and actual use of non-standard room after delivery were significant. In spite of concrete preference, there was certain barrier in use of non-standard room according to the income and types of hospitals. Therefore, changes of policy such as insurance support for room charge may be needed in case of delivery.

Keyword

Patients' rooms; Maternal health service; Availability; Delivery; Postpartum

MeSH Terms

Breast Feeding
Convalescence
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Insurance
Maternal Health Services
Mothers*
National Health Programs
Patients' Rooms
Postpartum Period
Pregnant Women
Surveys and Questionnaires
Maternal Health

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