The physical and emotional health of South Korean mothers of preterm infants in the early postpartum period: a descriptive correlational study

• Published in: Child health nursing research Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 103 - 111
• Main Authors: Park, Jiyun, Bang, Kyung-Sook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing 01.04.2022; 한국아동간호학회
• Subjects: depression; health; mothers; Original; premature birth; 간호학; Depression; Health; Mothers; Premature birth
• ISSN: 2287-9110; 2287-9129
• DOI: 10.4094/chnr.2022.28.2.103

This study investigated the physical and emotional health of South Korean mothers of preterm infants in the early postpartum period. In this descriptive correlational study, the participants included 91 mothers of preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Physical health status was measured using a self-reported questionnaire, postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and guilt using a 4-item scale. Fatigue had the highest score among mothers' physical health problems, followed by shoulder pain, nipple pain, neck pain. The average postpartum depression score was 11.02 points, and 44% of women had postpartum depression with a score of 12 or above. Postpartum depression significantly was correlated with physical health (r=.35, p=.001), anxiety (r=.84, p<.001), and guilt (r=.75, p<.001) and was significantly higher for women with multiple births, and preterm infants who required ventilator and antibiotic treatment. Anxiety also showed a significant difference according to preterm infants' condition. The significant correlations between postpartum depression and physical health, anxiety, and guilt indicate a need for nursing interventions that provide integrated management of mothers' physical and emotional health.