The Postpartum Care Change among Taiwanese Women-With an Example of North Region

• Main Authors: Sheng-Fang Tien, 田聖芳
• Other Authors: 余玉眉
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/69735317142130609505

博士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 護理學研究所 === 94 === Background: The traditional Chinese rite of “Tso-Yueh-Tze,” also known as “doing the month” has influenced women in recovery during postnatal period. However, there is little systemic research exploring the differences of experiences following the rite in postpartum recovery and factors indicating the differences. The study aimed to explore the ways of this special postpartum care, items cared, thoughts and experiences postnatal women had in following this rite. The factors influencing the differences were studied as well. The study hopefully would propose some solutions used in promoting postpartum nursing care quality. Method: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Cohort was considered as an important variable. In this study, we categorized our respondents into old cohort that is older than 55 years old, middle cohort, 35-54, and young cohort, 25-34. Personal interviews were conducted in one medical center in Taipei. Subjects were chosen from visitors and their companions in Obstetrics, Internal Medicine Clinic and Pediatrics Clinic in Outpatient Department. The quantitative data were collected. 120 from each cohort were interviewed. A total of 360 respondents were interviewed. Data was analyzed with SPSS10.0 software. Description statistics, chi-square test, ANOVA test, Scheffe’s test, Fisher’s exact test, logistic regression, and multiple regression were completed. Results: (1) There was a significant difference in ways of postpartum care provided to women in different cohorts. Respondents (51.8%), older than 55, had cared themselves in doing the month. 35-54 year old respondents had their mothers (31.0%) or mother in laws (36.4%)provide care during “doing the month.” There were alternative choices when choosing to perform the “Tso-Yueh-Tze,” mainly postpartum care services from private service providers. 25-34 year old respondents had their mothers (33.8%) or mother in laws (51.7%)provide care. For the combined forms of “doing the month,” there were 12 kinds in the old cohort, 12 in middle cohort, and 7 in young cohort. (2) The major difference in items cared in postpartum period was the food preparation. There was a significant difference in the total food categories in for each cohort. For the old cohort, they ate the sesame oil chicken the most, while the middle cohort and young cohort ate vegetables the most. The food forbidden in postpartum period was different in each cohort. For the old cohort and middle cohort, mainly the cold food was not allowed to eat. Cold water was the major thing that the young cohort should not drink. There was a significant difference found in caring newly born babies across the three cohorts. The husbands of women in the old cohort seldom helped care the babies. Among the three cohorts, the young one holds the least responsibility to care the babies at night. There was also a significant difference found in mental support. The most common support was family offering assistance. (3) The study found differences in experiences of “Tso-Yueh-Tze,” and in the total score of satisfaction among three different cohorts. The young cohort has the highest score in overall satisfaction toward care. Overall they have satisfactory experiences in receiving care. (4) Factors influenced postpartum care: a. The newborn babies’ characteristics caused differences in care only for the middle cohort. For the mother in laws who were older than 55, different occupations will influence the ways they provided care. Living conditions of respondents influenced the care providing. Respondents who live with their mother in laws would ask the mother in laws to take care of their Tso-Yueh-Tze. b. The newborn babies’ sex caused difference in items cared. Occupations, health status of mother in laws who were over 55 caused the difference in items cared. Relationship between caregivers and the cared women caused differences in total score of items cared only in the middle cohort due to their relationship to their mothers. Social economic status significantly influenced the total score of items cared in all the three cohorts. c. The influences from the caregivers in three cohorts: health conditions of mother in laws over 55 years old influenced the experiences of the postpartum women. Mothers of the old cohort were elementary school educated, and mothers of the middle cohort were high school educated. These factors influenced the experience of the postpartum women. The relationship the postpartum women had with mothers and mothers in laws influenced the experiences in all the three cohorts. Better relationship led to better experiences. There was a difference in experiences of postpartum care due to living environment in the old cohort. Living with mothers led to better experience. Better social status led to better experiences. Conclusion: The study analyzed the differences in experiences of “Tso-Yueh-Tze” for postpartum women in a changing society. In the future, postpartum care should be emphasized both in terms of health recovery and mental well-being of the postpartum women, also. Male participation in helping following the rite is a trend. Consumptive services of “Tso-Yueh-Tze” by enterprises should be monitored to ensure quality. Besides, we should have more support and pay more attention to the postpartum care toward more and more foreign spouses immigrated to Taiwan.