J Korean Acad Womens Health Nurs.  1999 Nov;5(3):410-419.

A Study on Functional Status after Childbirth under the Sanhujori

• Yoo EK

Abstract

This study sought to figure out women's functional status after childbirth under the Sanhujori. Functioal status was defined as the women's readiness to assume infant care responsibilities and resume her usual activities including household, social and community, self-care and occupational activity. A convenience sample of 211 women who are in the postpartal period of the range from 1 week to 3 months above and residing in Seoul. Korea was studied from January, 1997 to December, 1998 for two years. Mean age of respondents was 29.9 years and mean of the present postpartal period was 7.5 weeks. The present postpartal period was of 5-8 weeks 26.5%, 3-4weeks 26.1%, 9-12 week 23.7% and below 2 weeks 7.1%, 32.7% of women had a job and the mean period of return to job was 2.76 weeks. During Sanhujori the non professional care giver was family members from women's maiden home 73.5% and only 2% of husband. The period women needed for the recovery from now was 5.39 weeks and it means that women need 12.9weeks for recovery after childbirth. For the present subjective health status after childbirth, bad was 20.2%, good 18.3 and average 61.5% and for the recovery status, completely recovered 29.5%, slightly 61.8% and rarely 8.7%. The mean of functional status at the 7.5weeks was baby care activity 3.65, household 2.57, self-care 2.46, occupational 2.44 and social 1.53 in rank. Except baby care the functional status was generally low or very low. The related factors to the functional status were the period and subjective evaluation of Sanhujori women experienced, the present period of postpartum, and subjective feeling of recovery. This result strongly reflects the effects of Sanhujori culture and Sanhujori per se on women's postpartal life including functional status and reconfirmed the relationship between health status and the experience of Sanhujori after delivery as the previous findings fron various study showed. It provides a challenge to the professional care givers to research further on the effects of Sanhujori on the health status, health recovery after abortion or delivery from the various aspects through the cross-sectional and longitudinal research for the refinement of the reality of Sanhujori not only as cultural phenomenon but as an inseparable factor influencing in women's postpartal healthy adaptation and for the appropriateness of intervention and quality of care for desirable health outcome.

MeSH Terms

Caregivers
Surveys and Questionnaires
Family Characteristics
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Care
Korea
Parturition*
Postpartum Period
Self Care
Seoul
Spouses