Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to determine the problems experienced by postpartum women during the early postpartum period in their self care and infant care.

METHODS

The study was conducted cross-sectionally between October 2010 and April 2011 in a state hospital in Aydın city center. A total of 235 women were selected for the sample of the study by means of unsampled sampling method. Legal permission for collection of research data and verbal statements of women participating in the study were taken. The research data were collected by the questionnaire developed by the researchers. The data were evaluated by descriptive statistics and chi-square.

RESULTS

The average age of the women participating in the study is 28.23 (Sd = 5.87, December: 18-48). It was determined that 37.4% of the women were primary school graduates, 72.8% were housewives, 83.0% had social security, and 64.7% perceived income level as moderate. It was determined that 32.3% of the women had two pregnancies, 38.3% had two living children, 70.2% planned this pregnancy and 61.3% protected them by withdrawal before pregnancy. 47.7% of the women reported complaints of anemia during pregnancy.

Anneler reported that they experienced problems related to their self-care in the early postpartum period, namely pain (54.9%), difficulty in moving (52.3%), breast, nourishment and gas outflow (42.1%) and stool removal (37.0%). The majority of the women were in the cleaning (89.1%), lower (44.3%) and body (41.3%) cleaning, dressing (40.9%), taking out the wine and keeping it in the proper position (29.4%) with the baby being unable to move after the cesarean section (31.9%) and sleepless (25.1%).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In this study, it was determined that women experienced difficulties in care for themselves and their babies due to pain and difficulty in moving after having delivered by cesarean section. Mother and baby care can be improved in the early postpartum period by planning and presentation of special care for the problems of women who deliver with cesarean section.