|
KMID : 0892720000040010093
|
|
Journal of the Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health
2000 Volume.4 No. 1 p.93 ~ p.102
|
|
|
The Study of Baby Diapers
|
|
Han Jung-Suk
Kim Dong-Kun
Shin Hyun-Sook
Chung Yae-Lee
Chung Tae-Suk
Chae Sun-Mi
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
Although the use of disposable diaper is increasing recently, various factors should be considered to determine which diapering system may be used. This study was performed to investigate the effects of cloth and disposable diapers on home economy and environment and the irritancy to the skin. Questionnaires were given to 206 mothers visiting well baby clinics at Severance hospital and Samsung Jell hospital. To investigate the irritancy, we observed skin changes in healthy volunteers of 3049 years old before and after applying sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) or ammonia absorbed cloth and disposable diapers. The irritancy was evaluated by using corneometer and evaporimeter and clinical changes of the dependent area of the skin.
Among 206 babies, 109 babies(52.9%) used disposable diaper, 47 babies(22.8%) used loth diaper, and 50 babies(24.3%) used both. The important considerations for choosing diaper type were the convenience(38.1%), safety of skin(21.8%) and environmental aspect(19.4%). But only 9.3% thought about the expenses. The average frequencies of changing diapers were 8.4±3.8/day in groups using disposable diaper, 16.8±8.4/day in groups using cloth diaper and 18.3±8.0/day in groups using both diapers in combination. The cost for diaper per month was lower in cloth diaper(w36,214±31,645) than in disposable diaper(w44,090±26,518) and in combination(w67,106±71,355). The knowledge and perception about environmental impact of the diaper use was low in all groups. There was no statistically significant difference between groups.
Sixty five percent of babies using disposable diapers experienced skin problems, 44.7% of babies using cloth diapers, and 17.3% of babies using both types of diapers. Common skin problems they had were atopic dermatitis, diaper dermatitis, and miliaria. After applying irritant(SLS/5% ammonia)absorbed diaper patch on the skin of healthy adult volunteers, the transient increase of
transepidermal water loss and decrease of water content in stratum corneum were observed in the skin of volunteers applying cloth diaper patch, but these changes returned to normal after 1 hour.
Differences in clinical changes of the skin were not observed between two volunteer groups applying cloth and disposable diaper patch.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
diaper system, cloth and disposable diapers, environment, cost, skin health
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|