title: Beliefs, practices, and experiences of Korean women in relation to childbirth.
abstract: Korean women's health beliefs and childbirth experiences in the United States were examined. A convenience sampling procedure was used, and face-to-face interviews were conducted in Korean. Interviews were audiotaped, typed, and translated from Korean to English. These women had a holistic concept of health. Some practices were influence by ancient Chinese medicine. Childbirth experiences indicated that language is a barrier requiring specific interventions. Recommendations include (a) development of an assessment tool with which health-care professionals can identify individual health beliefs early in pregnancy; (b) development of a bilingual pamphlet about medical terms and the U.S. health-care system; (c) development of a short bilingual dictionary of common foods for use in menu selection during hospitalization; and (d) provision of English practice periods based on anticipatory guidance principles to prepare women to ask for specific assistance.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*