[Shenghua soup: a study of the relationships among related knowledge, expected effectiveness, and consumption behavior in postpartum women].

BACKGROUND

Women in Taiwan are concerned about postpartum personal healthcare, and over 90% consume Shenghua soup as part of their postpartum recovery regimen. However, knowledge regarding Shenghua soup is inadequate among this population. Therefore, the correlation between Shenghua soup knowledge and consumption behavior deserves further clarification.

PURPOSE

The study explores the relationships among Shenghua soup knowledge, expected effectiveness, and consumption behavior in postpartum women.

METHODS

A descriptive and correlational research design recruited a convenience sample of 515 < 30-days postpartum women from local specialty hospitals and postpartum centers.

RESULTS

(1) Participant education level had a significant impact on Shenghua soup consumption behavior. Those with bachelor and master school degrees earned a higher average score than those educated to the senior high school level; (2) Knowledge correlated significantly and positively with expected effectiveness (r = .14, p < .001) and consumption behavior (r = .12, p < .001). Consumption behavior correlated positively with expected effectiveness (r = .11, p < .05); (3) Marital status, knowledge and expected effectiveness were identified as significant predictors of Shenghua soup consumption behavior; (4) Principal sources of participant information on Shenghua soup were family members (30.84%), media (26.65%), and medical staff (16.44%); (5) Knowledge scores for over half of participants were in the "wrong" to "no idea" range; and (6) 66.6% of participants took Chinese and Western medicines to help uterine contraction, while 76% had consumed Shenghua soup.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that postpartum women in Taiwan have insufficient and incorrect knowledge regarding Shenghua soup; hold positive expectations regarding Shenghua soup effectiveness; and have a high Shenghua soup consumption rate. This study may serve as a postpartum care reference for healthcare professionals to improve the postpartum health of women.