• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the meanings of 'Natural childbirth' from experiences of Korean women who gave birth to a baby in the midwifery using a feminist approach. Methods: This paper is a qualitative research study and applies a feminist epistemology and methodology to the experiences of women who gave birth in midwifery. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews with eleven participants. Results: Two main themes emerged from the feminist content analyses and each main theme had three sub themes. A. transformation of control and knowledge on childbirth and the body 1) refusing coercive medicalization and building a new normality, 2) specific expectations about biological health and maternity rather than a return to nature, 3) the subject of pregnancy and childbirth, B. 'natural childbirth' practice as a new embodied discipline 1) helpers to support mothers, midwives, 2) helping the body to do 'natural childbirth', 3) from isolated labor to cooperative reproduction. Conclusion: These results indicate that women desired to practice being a subject, consultation with professionals, self-discipline and named actors except for women as 'other subjects' in childbirth.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.299-308
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was designed to identify nurses' perceptions and educational intentions regarding natural childbirth control (NCC) methods. Method: The participants were 313 nurses working at three general hospitals in Seoul. They were asked to complete a questionnaire composed of scales measuring knowledge and perceptions childbirth control methods, awareness of bodily changes in ovulation phase, perceptions of fetal life, which were developed by the author. Also, Chang's (2002) Sexual Autonomy Inventory was utilized. The data were analyzed by the SAS program. Results : Methods of condom and rhythm were considered to be more useful for childbirth control than other methods. Only 34-54% of them knew exactly about the NCC methods using menstrual cycle, body temperature, and mucus. The mean scores of sexual autonomy and awareness of bodily changes in ovulation phase were 3.8 and 3.4 out of 5, in respect. Educational intention was different statistically by the age, marital status, future intention to use NCC methods, and perception of educational need for NCC methods. Conclusion : Nurses' perceptions and educational intentions regarding NCC were low, especially in nurses who were married. It is recommended to encourage nurses to learn NCC methods for clients education.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was intended to explore the essential structure and the meanings of childbirth experiences among Korean women participated in Lamaze childbirth education. Methods: Giorgi's phenomenological method was used to analyze data collected by in-depth interviews with six primiparous women from March to July 2009. Results: Five components identified in the meanings of experience: 'Simplicity', 'Self-control', 'Uncontrollable pain', 'Spiritual maturity', 'Physiologic event'. Conclusion: The study results revealed that the childbirth experience was positive generally, partially influenced by Lamaze childbirth education. But, meanings of childbirth experience with Lamaze childbirth education were mostly physiological respect related to labor pain or one's own efforts to endure labor pain. Therefore, nursing strategies for drawing emotional and socio-environmental experiences from childbirth experience with Lamaze childbirth education is needed.