A Quantile Regression Analysis of Factors Associated with First-Time Maternal Fatigue in Korea

Predictors of parenting difficulties at the 18-month health checkups: A retrospective study using administrative data from infant health checkups

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify predictors of parenting difficulties at 18 months from the results of the 4-, 6-7-, and 9-10-month infant health checkups among caregivers who had not experienced difficulties at 4 months.

DESIGN AND SAMPLES

This retrospective study used data from infant health checkups conducted in a city in Tokyo from November 2019 to October 2021. The participants were caregiver-child dyads of children who had undergone four checkups. Low birthweight, preterm, and multiple birth infants, and caregivers who experienced difficulties at 4 months were excluded.

MEASUREMENTS

Data included caregiver, child-rearing environment, and child factors at the 4-, 6-7-, and 9-10-month checkups and caregivers' self-reported parenting difficulties at the 18-month checkup.

RESULTS

Of the 555 caregivers, 48 (8.6%) experienced parenting difficulties at 18 months. Logistic regression analyses showed that mothers' physical condition (4 months), children being male, abnormal child growth (4 months), less than 10th percentile for children's height (6-7 and 9-10 months), and abnormal examination results (6-7 months) were significantly associated with parenting difficulties at 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

To prevent child abuse, public health nurses should consider the identified factors to detect and support caregivers with emerging parenting difficulties.

Mothers' Experiences of Childbirth and Perspectives on Korean Medicine-Based Postpartum Care in Korea: A Qualitative Study

This study aimed to record the experiences of childbirth and postpartum care of postpartum women and gain an in-depth understanding of their experiences of Korean medicine-based postpartum healthcare. The investigator conducted a 60–90-min interview with the 8 participants (mean age 34 years), and the comments were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. The two major themes emerging from the participants’ comments were: “experience and awareness of childbirth and postpartum care” and “experiences of the Korean medicine-based postpartum program”. The first theme was analyzed in four primary categories: (1) experiences of breakdown of the body and mind; (2) impossibility of postpartum care without help; (3) experiences of relentless effort for recovery; and (4) experiences of body and mind recovery. The second theme was analyzed in four primary categories: (1) participation with vague expectations; (2) experiences of the effects of managing postpartum symptoms; (3) the need for a comprehensive Korean medicine management for postpartum women; and (4) suggested improvements for the Korean medicine-based postpartum program. Mothers recognized the importance of Korean medicine treatment during the postpartum period for the management of Sanhupung symptoms and postpartum care and reported the benefits of body warming, Sanhupung prevention, pain reduction, and sense of psychological stability.