This study was attempted to identify the levels of postpartum care knowledge and self-care performance with mothers in the puerperium of less than six weeks after childbirth.
Data were collected from 186 postpartum mothers who visited one university hospital, two women’s hospitals and one obstetric and gynecological clinic, located in Daegu, from March 4, 2001 to April 2, 2001 to receive postpartum care and have their babies be vaccinated.
The postpartum care knowledge scale with 47 items and the self-care performance scale with 42 items, were used as tools for the purpose of this study.
Data collected were analyzed by SAS program using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients.
The results of this study are summarized as follows.
The mean score of postpartum care knowledge was 3.15. The range of scores for items were between 3.61 and 2.72. In the sub-item area, the mean score of knowledge with regard to maternity was 3.10; the sub-item of feeding and breast care had 3.27, nutrition 3.17, perineal care 3.10, general hygiene 3.03, and exercise and rest 2.95. The mean score of knowledge with regard to baby was 3.19; the sub-item of sleep and environment had 3.33, feeding and nutrition 3.22, cleanness management 3.20, elimination 3.12, and safety and general condition 3.08.
The mean score of self-care performance was 3.10. The range of scores for items were between 3.54 and 1.80. In the sub-item area, the mean score of self-care performance with regard to maternity was 2.85; the sub-item of general hygiene had 3.19, perineal care 3.10, feeding and breast care 2.89, nutrition 2.75, and exercise and rest 2.30. The mean score of self-care performance with regard to baby was 3.35 cleanness management 3.68, safety and general condition 3.35, feeding and nutrition 3.28, sleep and environment 3.22, and elimination 3.21.
The levels of postpartum care knowledge and self-care performance were examined in accordance with characteristics of demographic and obstetrics. The level of postpartum care knowledge showed no statistically significant difference, whereas the level of self-care performance showed statistically significant difference in educational background, occupation and frequency of antenatal care. That is, for a postpartum mother having high educational background, an occupation, or many antenatal care, the level of self-care performance appeared to be relatively high.
There was a significantly positive correlation between the postpartum care knowledge and the self-care performance. The higher the level of postpartum knowledge, the higher the level of self-care performance(r=0.42, w=0.0001).
The following suggestions are made on the basis of the results of this study described above.
1. It is necessary to develop and implement an educational program for postpartum mothers that will be effective in raising the levels of their postpartum care knowledge and self-care performance.
2. It is further necessary not only to have caregivers for postpartum mothers participate in the educational program together with postpartum mothers but also to teach correct knowledge and proper attitudes of postpartum care through effective test procedures.
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