The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and the enhancing factors and predictors to postpartum care performance.

The Research design in this study was a cross-sectional correlational survey. Subjects were 145 women at 6 to 10 weeks post delivery at an OB & GY clinic. Data was gathered with postpartum care performance, and other related variables including emotional status during pregnancy, fatigue, health recovery status, maternal role and identity. Data was analyzed using the SPSS WIN(version 11.0) program.

The mean score of postpartum care performance was 3.08 of 5, it had significant differences in emotional status during pregnancy, coincidence of expected sex, health recovery status, postpartum fatigue and postpartum depression. The maternal role and health recovery status were enhancing factors of postpartum care performance. Also, the barrier factors were fatigue, depression and coincidence of expected sex. Among these factors, the present health recovery status had an predictability of 11.7%, postpartum fatigue 3.2%, and coincidence of expected sex 2.5%, for a total predictability factor of 17.4% on postpartum care performance.

Among these related factors to postpartum care performance, present health recovery status was the most predictable factor and then postpartum fatigue, and coincidence of expected sex. We need to establish a strategy to reduce postpartum fatigue and implement nursing interventions for health related consequences in postpartum women.