A Study on the Nursing Needs and satosfactions of Early Postpartum Women
Authors: Yoo Youn Ja , Lee Eun Ju 
Published: September 2023

This study was carried out to identify the differences between nursing needs and levels of satisfaction of postpartum women during the early postpartum period. The goal of this study was to obtain needed to develope the nursing quality for postpartum women. The subjects were 87 postpartum women who had vaginal delivery at 2 general hospital and 2 maternity hospital in the Ulsan City. The period for the data collection was from June 1 to 29, 1999. The data was gathered using an 98 items questionnaire which was a modified version of a questionnaire the developed by Y. J. Chun. Results found are as follows : 1. The general characteristics of the subjects : The majority of subjects were 25-29 yrs. (57.5%), high school and college graduates(96.5%), unemployed(75.9%), middle ranged economics(93.1%), had no religion(43.7%), male baby(52.9%), birth weight 3-3.5Kg(49.4%), wanted pregnancy(96.6%), no abortion history(50.6%), had antenatal care(89.7%), had prenatal education(32.2%), postnatal education(42.5%), intended breast feeding (46.0%), had resonable self confidence about self(20.7%), infant care(36.8%) and nuclear family pattern(82.3%).2. The level of nursing needs of overall nursing care(3.93) and the levels of satisfaction(3.86) was relatively high. The nursing needs by category of nursing care, the highest need was in the emotional and psychological care(4.09), and the lowest need was in physical need(3.73). The satisfactions by category of nursing care, the highest satisfaction was in emotional and psychological care(4.11) and the lowest satisfaction was in education in self care(3.64). The significant differences between nursing needs and satisfactions were found on education in infant care(p=.005), and education in self care(p=.020).3. Among items of physical care, 'accurate medication and treatment(4.21)', 'control of postpartum hemorrhage(4.13)', 'pain control and care of episiotomy wound (4.12)' and 'regular observation of postpartum conditions(4.09)' showed high nursing needs. 'Accurate medication and treatment(4.31)', 'regular observation of postpartym condition(4.24)', 'control of postpartum hemorrhage(4.22)' and 'pain control and care of episiotomy wound(4.12)' showed high satisfaction levels.4. Among items of emotional and psychological care, 'persomal treatment(4.32)', kind and faithful care(4.30)', 'detailed explanation on the teatment or nursing care(4.25)', 'adequate draping during the care and treatment(4.23)' and detailed explanation on a doubt(4.13)', showed high nursing needs, 'personal teatment(4.52)', 'kind and faithful care(4.45)', 'detailed explanation on a doubt(4.24)', 'detailed explanation on the teatment or nursing care(4.21)' and 'adequate draping during the care and treatment(4.18)' showed high satisfaction of nursing care. Difference between the level of nursing needs and satisfaction was significant except item of 'early contacts with their baby and breast feeding'.5. Among items of environmental care, the highest level of need and satisfaction were on the items of 'neat bedding and clothes(4.05, 4.21)' and 'room cleansing or care of room(4.01, 4.28)'. Differences between the level of nursing care and satisfaction were 'room cleansing of care of room'.6. Among items of educational needs on self care, 'sitz bath method(4.22)', 'high risk symptoms to immediate clinic visits(4.13)', 'the timing of tub bath(4.05)' and 'good secretion of breast milk(4.03)', showed high nursing needs, 'sitz bath method(4.22)' showed high satisfaction of nursing care. Differences between the level of nursing care and satisfaction were 'the timing of hair shampoo', 'the timing of tub bath', ' the method of pad change', 'postpartum exercise', 'good secretion of breast milk', 'maintenance of breast figure', 'contraindicated drugs in postpartum women', 'kegel exercise' and 'breast self examination'.7. Among items of educational needs on infant care, 'immunization of infants(4.36)', 'symptoms of sickness to immediate clinic visits(4.28)'. 'safety and emergency care(4.28)', 'umblical care(4.26)', 'feeding times and intervals(4.24)', 'normal growth and development of infant(4.24)' and 'infection control(4.22)', showed high level of nursing care, 'immunization of infants(4.21)', 'feeding times and intervals(4.17)', were high satisfaction items showed significant differences between the level of nursing care and satisfaction.8. Relationship between nursing needs and levels of satisfaction among postpartum women were as follows : 1) Physical area : There were no significant differences in the level of nursing needs, but satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'working mothers', 'baby's weights', 'baby's sex', 'planning of feeding' and 'routes of receiving postpartum informations'.2) Emotional and psychological area : The level of nursing needs were significantly different in the area of 'confidence in self care'. Satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'baby's sex', 'baby's weights', 'the confidence of infant care' and 'working mother'.3) Environment area : There were on significant differences in the level of nursing needs, but satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'maternal age' and 'baby's weights'.4) Education in self care : The level of nursing needs were significantly different among 'parity history' and 'type of family formation'. Satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'working mother', 'baby's sex', 'antenatal care', 'postpartum education', 'planning of feeding', 'routes of receiving postpartum informations'.5) Education in infant care area : The level of nursing needs were significantly different among 'parity history'. Satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'baby's sex', 'receiving postpartum education or not' and 'working mother'.