The factors which control the healthy growth & development of a person depend on the health of fetal and infantile life.
It is especially important to give care and manage the mothers health throughout pregnancy, labor, and the puerperal period, in order to maintain the mothers´ own health which in turn effects fetal´ and infantile ´life.
Health workers, of course, could not achieve the purpose of maternal and child health without mothers cooperation and participation. So health workers must establish a program of good health, education for mothers. This will affect not only their own health but also child health and national health. To improve care for mothers and children, we had to determine the mothers´ knowledge, experience, and attitudes toward maternal and child health.
One of the most important functions of professional nurses is to teach patients and their families to give effective care mentally and physically. Also teachers should teach students to have opportunities for teaching patients along with other nursing care. This not only helps patients but increases students own knowledge and experience. And, students learn that teaching patients is one of the most important responsibilities of the nurse.
The maternity nursing department of the College of Nursing has conducted "Mothers" Class" for puerperal mothers hospitalized
in Y. Hospital. Senior nursing students have been in charge of the "Mothers´ Class" that. is instructing health management of pregnancy, delivery, puerperium, newborn baby.
We have conducted "Mothers´ Class" since 1967. "Mothers´ Class" was partially evaluated in terms of class content and communication method. However we did not have opportunity to evaluate the "Mothers´ Class" totally. Actually this is a chance to analyze and evaluate "Mothers´ Class" and contribute resources for student nurses´ education in the practical area. The result of this. research work will improve the development of maternal and child health and provide= better clinical education for students through finding improved principles of better management and organization.
Objectives of study
1. To determine mothers´ attitudes, knowledge of motherhood before attending "Mothers´ Class".
2. To determine mothers´ attitudes, knowledge of motherhood after attending "Mothers Class".
3. To evaluate students´ learning experiences related to "Mothers´ Class"
Ⅱ. Method of study
1. As a measuring tool, we used questionnaire. The questionnaires were designed and administered to 108 mothers (hospitalized during the period of Nov. 1974 to Apr. 1975, 6 months.) before and after the `"Mothers´ Class" participation. Any mothers. who had missed any one of the pre or post class questionnaires were not included in this research report.
2. An evaluation form of the "Mothers´ Class" for the use of students was designed. Out of 80 students, 57 students conducted the classes and were asked to evaluate their learning experiences in terms of:
(a) Understanding group dynamics.
(b) Developing teaching skills.
(c) Managing Mothers´ Class.
(d) Exploring knowledge beyond what had been learned in the classroom.
First-day mothers after normal delivery, and third-day mothers after C-section were asked whether they were interested in .attending "Mothers´ Class". If they were interested, they were given the questionnaire before participating in an hour "Mothers´ Class." After they participated in the "Mothers´ Class", we asked mothers .about "Mothers´ Class", and what they .learned from student nurses lectures.
Students were asked to fill in the questionnaire after they finished their clinical practice during the 8th week of experience.
Ⅲ. Results of study
1. General statistics on mothers.
Average age of mothers-28.6 years Educated above high school-88.89 %
House wives-64.82%
There was no significant difference between primipara and multipara in numbers.
2. The results of evaluation of mothers´ knowledge and attitudes about pregnancy, labor, and puerperium etc. showed that these mothers had very little knowledge in these subjects. The results also showed the mothers did not feel they would be affected much by what they learned from students lectures.
That means the content of "Mothers´ Class" was not well organized or communicated by the students. The content of lectures by students was not relevant, nor adapted for mothers, and teaching methods used by the students did not make material clearly understood by puerperal mothers.
"Mothers´ Class" should be evaluated and reorganized for benefit both of mothers and students.
The need for antenatal and postnatal care of mothers was recognized but the method of self care by mothers was not known well before they attended "Mothers Class".
Mothers were not helped by lectures on breast care even though they attended the class. Therefore, the lectures were not satisfactory either for mothers or for the students.
Knowledge of and importance of follow up care of mothers after discharge was agreed on, and also importance of well-baby clinic schedules to follow or to check baby´s growth and development physically and emotionally, immunization, nutrition, and guidance.
All accepted the importance of knowledge of and carrying out some kind of family planning.
3. Evaluation of students
Contents of lecture, time, place, and management of the class was satisfactory for most students. But improvement of organization, environment, and teaching method of the Class should be carried out.
In order to improve the students´ management of "Mothers´ Class" communication method and leadership should be taught. Students should be encouraged to take responsibility and interest, to more adequately prepare "Mothers´ Class", to prepare a more suitable environment, and to improve teaching materials, and especially they must be trained in more organized teaching methods to provide a higher grade level of education for the mothers.
IV. Suggestions
1. To evaluate "Mothers´ Class" with correlative studies between mothers and students.
2. To measure in detail the attitudes, knowledge, and ability of controlling health before mothers attend the "Mothers´ Class" and recheck mothers after they attend "Mothers´ Class".
3. Manuals and lesson plans should be prepared for students as teaching guides.
4. Teaching materials and aids might be prepared as much as possible.
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