The effects of a pregnancy and childbirth program for pregnant women of advanced maternal age Kim Hye Jin1, Kim Tae Kyung2,*, Song Jung Hee3 1Professor, Dept. Nursing, Kyungbok University, Sinpyeong-ro, 154, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 11138 2Professor, Dept. Nursing, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, Yanggi-ro, Busan Jin-gu, 54, Busan, 47230 3Professor, Dept. Nursing, Anasan University, Ansandaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, 155, Ansan-si, 15328, Republic of Korea *Corresponding Author: Tae Kyung Kim Professor, Department of Nursing, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, South Korea Email: phoebetk@dit.ac.kr
Online published on 16 October, 2018. Abstract This study aimed to develop and apply a pregnancy and childbirth program for healthy pregnancy and childbirth to pregnant women of advanced maternal age and determine its effects. This study was conducted in 119 women aged ≥30 years who were 12–32 weeks pregnant and volunteered in the program for five weeks from January to February 2015. A survey was conducted to collect data concerning the participants’ health status, prepartum care compliance, and pregnancy-related stress in pretest and posttest; the data were analyzed using an SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. The participants were aged 35.2 years on average and scored statistically significantly high for prepartum care compliance (3.68–3.80). The score for pregnancy-related stress decreased from 2.63 to 2.49. As for prepartum care compliance, their participation in the program had statistically significant effects on regular medical examination, iron supplement intake, moderate exercise, and adjuvant methods in preparation for delivery. On the basis of these results, it is necessary to continuously develop and run a customized program that can help pregnant women of advanced maternal age prepare for any change and risk based on age. Top Keywords Advanced maternal age, Pregnant women, pregnancy, childbirth, program. Top |