Mothers Perception of Fatigue in Postpartum Period

Kim, Shin Jeong; Jeong, Geum Hee; Kim, Eun Ha

doi:2001.7.4.461

J Korean Acad Women Health Nurs > Volume 7(4); 2001 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Women's Health Nursing 2001;7(4):461-472.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2001.7.4.461

Mothers Perception of Fatigue in Postpartum Period

Shin Jeong Kim¹, Geum Hee Jeong¹, Eun Ha Kim²

¹Department of Nursing Science, Hallym University, ChunCheon, Korea
²Part-time lecture, Department of Nursing, Suwon Women's College, Suwon, Korea

Correspondence: Shin Jeong Kim,
Email: kimsj@hallym.ac.kr

Abstract

A study was done to identify mothers' perception of fatigue in postpartum period. Questionnaires were collected from 267 normal postpartum mothers in Korea from July to December 2000. The questionnaires used to measure mothers fatigue were "Subjective Symptoms of Fatigue Test" designed by Research Committee of Industrial Fatigue in Hygienic Association of Japan Industry. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS-Win. The results revealed that The average fatigue score of subjects was 1.70; Physical fatigue had the highest value with a mean of 1.89, followed by psychological fatigue with a mean score of 1.62, neuro-sensory fatigue was rated lowest with a mean of 1.58. Sorting out the subjects fatigue level per a week during Sweeks, 6th week after postpartum had the highest value with a mean of 1.85. Degree of fatigue was also compared with the respect to the general characteristics of mothers: There were statistically significant differences according to mothers' job (t= -2.021, p= .046), sleeping time (t=2.771, p= .006), having a nap (t= -2.132, p= .034), baby character (F= 3.089, p= .047), baby sex (t= -2.054, p= .041), having a person who help domestic affairs (t= 2.292, p= .023). Therefore variable nursing intervention should be provided to alleviate the fatigue according to the postpartum period. Especially the nursing intervention program to alleviate the physical fatigue is needed.

Key Words: Fatigue; Mothers; Postpartum Period