J Nurs Acad Soc.  1974 Dec;4(3):81-92.

A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF OBSTETRIC KNOWLEDGE OF PREGNANT WOMEN AND POSTPARTUM MOTHERS

• LEE SJ

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of obstetric knowledge of pregnant women and postpartum mothers, and to contribute the data to community health teaching program as well as maternity nursing. 385 pregnant women and postpartum mothers visited at or admitted to Seoul Adventist Hospital were sampled. The results of the study were as follows. 1. 97.9% of the subjects were between the age of 21 to 35, most of them (82.9%) were housewives with high school education and with a middle class family background. 2. The first symptoms of pregnancy were amenorrhea (70.4%), nausea & vomiting (23.9%), change of skin color (1.6%). 3. 77. 9% of the subjects did not know how to deal with morning sickness. 4. 52.9% did not know when the sex determination of the fetus-occurs. 5. Concerning the fetus position; 77.1% of them believed it lies head down, head up (12.0%), and not knowing (10.9%). 6. 73.2% recognized the need for a well balanced food during pregnancy, 7. As to the dangerous symptoms during pregnancy; vaginal bleeding was considered the 1st, edema, the 2nd, continuous abdominal pain, the 3rd. 82% of them would confer with physician in case of vaginal bleeding. As to the type of activities restricted by pregnancy; hard exercise was considered first, travel the second, and coitus during 1st and last trimester of pregnancy the 3rd. 8. 82.4% of them visited antenatal clinic at the second or third month of amenorrhea and 88.5% realized the regular physical examination imparative. 9. The purpose of urine test was recognized correctly by 44.7%, blood test; 89.4%, B. P. and weight check; 69.9%. 10. The need of breast care during pregnancy was recognized by 76.9% of the subject. 11. 75.8% realized that prenatal exercise was needed. The higher the education the better the understanding of the need for it before delivery. 12. The concept of postpartum period was understood correctly by 54.4%. 13. The state of uterus after delivery was understood correctly by 49.1% only. 14. Regarding the management of colostrum; 48.3% knew it was to feed infants, and it was to squeeze and discard 43.4%. 15. Dealing with postpartum exercise; 67.8% answered it was needed, 9.1% not needed, not heard about 23.1%.

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Amenorrhea
Breast
Coitus
Colostrum
Edema
Education
Female
Fetus
Head
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Maternal-Child Nursing
Morning Sickness
Mothers*
Nausea
Physical Examination
Postpartum Period*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Pregnant Women*
Seoul
Skin
Uterine Hemorrhage
Uterus
Vomiting