Factors of Physical and Psychological Symptoms in Women after Miscarriage

Chae Weon Chung; Hye-Sun Jung; Soon Nyoung Yun; Jong Chul Shin; Hyun Ju Park; Mi Yeoun Han

doi:10.4069/kjwhn.2009.15.4.303

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Chung, Jung, Yun, Shin, Park, and Han: Factors of Physical and Psychological Symptoms in Women after Miscarriage

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2009; 15(4): 303-311.

Published online: 31 December 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2009.15.4.303

Factors of Physical and Psychological Symptoms in Women after Miscarriage

Chae Weon Chung¹, Hye-Sun Jung², Soon Nyoung Yun³, Jong Chul Shin⁴, Hyun Ju Park⁵, Mi Yeoun Han⁶

¹Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Korea.

²Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.

³Professor, College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Korea.

⁴Professor, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Korea.

⁵Research Fellow, Department of Preventive, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.

⁶Doctoral Student, College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Jung, Hye-Sun, Department of Preventive, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2258-7368, Fax: 82-2-532-3820, hyesun@catholic.ac.kr

Received 11 July 2009 Accepted 30 November 2009

Abstract

Purpose

The study aimed to explore the health consequences that women experienced after miscarriage and the factors related to them.

Methods

A convenience sample consisting of 102 women who had miscarried within 2 years was used. Women were recruited from hospitals and enterprises in Seoul and Gyeong-Gi Province. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire containing a physical and psychological symptoms checklist developed for this study.

Results

More than 40% of the miscarriages occurred after 9 weeks of pregnancy and 35% of women were found to have had a previous miscarriage prior to this study. Psychological symptoms were more prevalent and prolonged than the physical symptoms, furthermore, the frequencies of the symptoms experiencedwere not consistent with the duration of symptoms. Employed women and women with early miscarriages complained of more physical symptoms; however, psychological symptoms were not different according to women's characteristics. Employment was a significant factor affecting physical symptoms.

Conclusion

Health care professionals need to inform and educate women and the family of the potential health changes during the recovery after the miscarriage. Health consequences due to miscarriages also need to be incorporated in women's reproductive health care. Nursing care should consider factors of maternal age, employment status, and obstetrical conditions upon the apparent social changes.

Keywords: Miscarriage, Physical symptom, Psychological symptom

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Characteristics of the participants (N=102)

Table 2

Frequency of symptoms experienced after miscarriage (N=102)

Table 3

Mean scores of the physical and psychological symptoms & duration (N=102)

Table 4

Differences in physical and psychological symptoms by the characteristics (N=102)

Table 5

Factors of physical and psychological symptoms after miscarriage

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