A Study of the Pregnant Woman's Attitude toward Maternal Health Services in a Rural Area

보건학과/석사[영문] [한글] A Study of the Pregnant Woman's Attitude toward Maternal Health Services in a Rural Area Kim, Ki Soon Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University (Directed by Professor Jae Mo Yang) A survey was made, in September 1972, of the pregnant woman's attitude toward maternal health services among women eligible for maternal health services during 1972 in Hachungmyun, Kojegun, Kyungsangnamdo. the purpose of this study was to find a better way of providing health services in this area so that as many pregnant women as possible could participate in the maternal health program of the Koje Community Health and Development Project. A total of 222 women were studied; of these 119 women delivered after January 1st, 1972 and 103 women were pregnant as of September 1st, 1972. The results were as follows: 1. The prevalence rate of self-reported illnesses during the last pregnancy was 48.2%; of these 29% of the sick women received treatment while the rest (71%) received none. As to the sources of treatment, 16% of the 29% received treatment from a hospital, 11% from a drug store and 2% from a herb doctor. 2. 38% of the women received prenatal check-ups, but most only once and 3% received prenatal check-ups more than 3 times. 3. 99% of the women used their homes as the place for delivery of their most recent babies and only 1% were delivered at a hospital. 4. During labor, 12% of the women were attended by a person with medical experience, two thirds of whom were unlicensed. 5. For cutting the umbilicus of the newborn, 82% of women used an unsterilized scissor or knife at home, while 7% of women used the home delivery kit distributed by the government maternal health program. 6. 74% of women expressed a desire to participate in the prenatal care services of the Koje Community Health and Development Project. 7. When asked to state their choice as to the preferral type of practitioner delivering the prenatal health care, 64% of women chose a female doctor, 32% chose a midwife and only 2% chose a male doctor. As to their attitude about undergoing a vaginal examination by a male doctor, during the prenatal check-up, 19% expressed a willingness to do so but 62% stated that they would refuse. On the other hand 76% and 74% respectively stated that they would be willing to undergo such an examination by either a female doctor or a midwife. 8. For W00($1.25), the cost of prenatal care including drug fee; 59% of women thought that such a charge was fair or too low while 2% of women thought that it was too expensive. 9. As to the location of the prenatal check-up, 47% of women expressed a willingness to come to the clinic for their check-up while 34% of women felt that a team from the Project should come to their village for prenatal care. 10. The willingness to travel to the clinic for prenatal care increased with the women's level of education; in contrast, the willingness to travel decreased with an increase in age, with an increase in their distance from the clinic, and in habituated group to traditional customs related to pregnancy. 11. In regard to their next delivery, 95% of women considered their homes the preferred place of delivery, and only 1% of women hoped for a hospital delivery. 12. Of those who wanted a home delivery, 27% asked that the birth be attended at their home by staff personnel of the Koje Community Health and Development Project.restrictio