Factors Influencing the Preventive Practice of International Students in South Korea against COVID-19 during the Pandemic.

As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, quarantine guidelines are being constantly updating to prevent the transmission of this virus. Regardless of which country international students live in, they might receive limited crucial quarantine guidelines from that country's government. The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing the preventive practice of international students in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from international students in three universities from July 10 to July 31 in 2020. A total of 261 international students participated in the survey, using an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Preventive practice during the COVID-19 pandemic was affected by duration of stay in Korea (ß = -0.21, p < 0.001), attitudes (ß = 0.22, p = 0.001), and trust in Korea's quarantine system (ß = 0.33, p < 0.001). This study showed that attitudes and trust in the quarantine system could affect personal preventive practice during the outbreak of a highly contagious disease such as COVID-19.

Effects of a breastfeeding coaching program on growth and neonatal jaundice in late preterm infants in South Korea.

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of a breastfeeding coaching program for mothers on growth and neonatal jaundice in late preterm infants (LPIs). METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study (non-randomized intervention) with a time-series design. The study was conducted among 40 LPIs who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in Daegu, South Korea. In the order of admission, the first 21 infants were assigned to the experimental group, and 19 were assigned to the control group. The intervention program consisted of home- based and web-based practical breastfeeding support education for mothers across a total of 5 sessions. Infant growth was measured using body weight, length, and head circumference, and neonatal jaundice was assessed using transcutaneous bilirubin levels. RESULTS: The likelihood of breastfeeding for infants in the experimental group at 4 weeks after discharge was the same as on the day of discharge, whereas it steadily decreased in the control group. There were significant differences in head circumference between the groups. However, weight, length, and transcutaneous bilirubin levels did not show a significant group-time interaction. CONCLUSION: A formal breastfeeding coaching program should be considered in clinical settings and at home within the first few weeks postpartum.

Effects of a Breastfeeding Support Program on the Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Growth in Late Preterm Infants.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a breastfeeding support program (BSP) on the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and growth in late-preterm infants. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. The participants were 40 late preterm infants (LPIs), of whom 20 were assigned to the experimental group and 20 to the control group. For the mothers in the experimental group, a BSP was provided prior to the LPIs' discharge and reinforced once a week for 4 weeks. Information on the feeding type was collected by observation and the LPIs' body weight was measured. RESULTS: There were significant differences in feeding type by group and time. Exclusive breastfeeding was 5.18 times more common in the experimental group than in the control group (odds ratio=5.18, 95% confidence interval=1.11~16.70). However, weekly weight gain did not show a significant relationship with group and time (F=0.40, p=.712). CONCLUSION: The BSP was helpful for increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in LPIs. Furthermore, the LPIs in the experimental group, which had a higher likelihood of being exclusively breastfed, showed an equivalent amount of weight gain as the LPIs in the control group, in which infants were more likely to be formula-fed.

Influence of a Breastfeeding Coaching Program on the Breastfeeding Rates and Neonatal Morbidity in Late Preterm Infants.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the influence of a breastfeeding coaching program (BCP) for mothers of late preterm infants (LPIs) on the breastfeeding rate and neonatal morbidity within 1 month after discharge. METHODS: This was a non-randomized quasi-experimental study with a time series design. The participants were 40 LPIs and their mothers who were hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit at a university hospital. Nineteen LPIs were assigned to the control group, and 21 to the experimental group. The mothers of the LPIs in the experimental group received the BCP once on the discharge day and then once a week for 1 month. Neonatal morbidity was defined as an outpatient department or emergency room visit due to an LPI's health problem. RESULTS: The breastfeeding rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group at the fourth week after discharge (x 2=7.17, p=.028). Five and two LPIs in the control group and the experimental group, respectively, visited a hospital due to neonatal jaundice. Neonatal morbidity was not significantly different between the two groups (x 2=1.95, p=.164). CONCLUSION: The BCP was useful for improving the breastfeeding rates of LPIs and may have potential to reduce neonatal morbidity.

[Breast feeding rates and factors influencing breast feeding practice in late preterm infants: comparison with preterm born at less than 34 weeks of gestational age].

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare breast feeding rates and factors influencing feeding practice between late preterm (34 ≤ GA < 37) and preterm infants (GA<34). METHODS: A survey was done of 207 late preterm and 117 preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of 4 university hospitals in D city. Data were collected from July 2009 to June 2010 from 324 medical records in the NICU. Breast-feeding at home was checked either by telephone survey or questioning during hospital visits. RESULTS: Rate of breast feeding for late preterm infants was significantly lower than for preterm infants. There was no significant difference in breast-feeding at home. We found differences in factors influencing breast feeding between the two groups. Factors influencing feeding for late preterm infants were type of delivery, mothers' occupation, feeding type during hospitalization, time elapse from hospital discharge, total admission days, infant's body weight at first feeding and length of NPO (nothing by mouth). Factors influencing feeding for preterm infants were birth order, maternal disease and obstetric complications, and one-minute Apgar score. CONCLUSION: Results of the study show low rates of breast-feeding for late preterm infants indicating a need for breast-feeding education for mothers of these infants.

[Effects of breast-feeding education and support services on breast-feeding rates and infant's growth].

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the effects of breast-feeding education and support services on rate of breast-feeding three and six months after birth, and the effect on infant's growth (weight, height, body mass index [BMI]). The experimental group which had both education and support services was compared with the control group which had only breast-feeding education. METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a time-series design. The participants were 39 mothers who were hospitalized for childbirth. Twenty mother were assigned to the experimental group and 19 mothers, to the control group. The breast feeding education was done during hospitalization, and support services were provided once a week after discharge for a month (a total 4 times) by a maternity ward nurse. Data regarding breastfeeding rate at one month after childbirth was collected by phone call; the breast-feeding rates at three and six months after childbirth were collected in a visit to the families. The child's weight and height were also measured during the visit. RESULTS: The experimental group had a statistically significant higher rate for frequency of breast-feeding at one, three and six months after childbirth than the control group. However, there was no meaningful difference between the two groups for infant growth. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that breast-feeding education is helpful for a start, but support services are also necessary to sustain breast-feeding.

[Effect of postpartum breast-feeding support by nurse on the breast-feeding prevalence].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the professional nurse's postpartum breast-feeding support on breast-feeding prevalence for mothers who delivered in Baby-Friendly Hospitals (BFH). METHODS: This quasi experimental study was designed with a nonequivalent control group post test. The subjects of this study were 55 mothers who were hospitalized in the delivery room of a university hospital which was selected as a BFH in Daegu from October 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. Twenty nine mothers were assigned to the experimental group and 26 mothers to the control group. Postpartum breast-feeding support by nurses' telephone calls to the experimental group was provided once a week for 4 weeks postpartum and then once a month for 16 weeks postpartum. Four post tests were given at postpartum week 4, 8, 12, and 16. The control group was given a telephone call at postpartum week 4, 8, 12, and 16. RESULTS: The breastfeeding prevalence of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group for each period. CONCLUSION: Postpartum breast-feeding support by nurses may be a useful intervention to increase breast-feeding prevalence.

[Effects of sensory stimulation program conducted by primipara on the physical growth and mother-infant feeding interaction for full term infant].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of sensory stimulation program administered by primipara on the physical growth and mother-infant feeding interaction for the first 6 months of infancy. METHOD: Data were collected from December 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003. A total of 35 mothers and their infants were assigned to a control (n=17) and an experimental (n=18) group. Mothers in the experimental group received education related to sensory stimulation program and administered to their infants twice a day for 6 months. Both groups were measured the weight, length, head circumference and chest circumference of infants at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 18 weeks, and 22 weeks and the mother-infant feeding interaction at 6 weeks, 10 weeks through the home visiting. RESULT: Compared to the control group, the experimental group had significantly larger increases in head circumference for intervention period. In addition to, the experimental group showed significantly higher score in mother-infant interaction than control group. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that sensory stimulation program administered by primipara may improve the physical growth of full term infant and mother-infant feeding interaction.