All issues > Volume 41(3); 1998

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1998;41(3):307-314. Published online March 15, 1998.

A Survey on the Attitudes toward Premature Infants

Oh Hyuk OH Kwon¹, Son Moon SM Shin¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Taegu, Korea

Correspondence Oh Hyuk OH Kwon ,Email: 1

Abstract

Purpose
: We studied the attitudes of general population and medical personnels toward premature infants to establish basic data about prematurity.
Methods
: Ten students from Yeungnam University College of Medicine conducted field surveys on the general population at residential and commercial districts, and on medical personnels at private local clinics and hospitals in Taegu with a prepared questionaire from July 25, 1996 to August 20, 1996. Statistical analysis was done by Chi square test using SPSS computerized program.
Results
: The respondents who have never heard about premature babies are 4.6% of 502 total respondents. Sixty percent of the respondents acquired information about prematurity from mass media(television, newspaper, radio), and television was the most frequentl among them(60%). Because the percentage of respondents who know the correct meaning of prematurity is lower in those who acquired information from mass media than those from medical personnels or books on childcare, it was observed that information about prematurity is delivered inaccurately through mass media. Fifty percent of the respondents regard premature babies as handicapped or retarded babies, sixty-five percent of the respondents want their babies, not to be treated not because of economical burden but possibilities of residual handicap or death.
Conclusion
: Delivery accurate information about recent advances in intensive care for premature babies through mass media, i.e. television, newspaper and radio, is necessary to inform the general population and to help parents or family members of a premature baby participate in making a decision on whether to continue treatment for the baby or not.

Keywords :Premature infant, Attitude, Ethics, Survey