본 연구에서는 아로마테라피 좌욕을 적용한 실험군과 대조군의 산욕기 회음부 불편감과 우울을 비교 분석하였으며, 그 결과 다음과 같은 결론을 내릴 수 있었다. 아로마테라피 좌욕은 산욕기 산모들의 신체적인 문제로 회음부 불편감 뿐만 아니라 심리적인 산후 우울을 감소시키는데 효과적이었다. 그러므로 우리나라에서 분만 중 대부분의 산모에게 시행하는 회음절개술 후 산모에게 나타나는 회음부 불편감과 산후 많은 빈도로 나타나는 우울을 감소시키는 방안으로 아로마테라피 좌욕을 적용하는 것은 매우 적절한 것으로 판단된다. 특히 아로마테라피 좌욕은 그 적용법이 간단하므로 그 장점이 있다고 보겠다.

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of aromatherapy on perineal discomfort and postpartum depression of postpartum mother. The nonequivalent control group pretest- posttest design was used in this study. The subjects of this experiment were 43 postpartum mothers of M postpartum mother's center located in D City. 23 mothers were in the experimental group, who received aromatherapy sitz bath using dilated essential oil with Lavandula angustifolia, Citrus bergmia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Santalum album. 20 mothers were in the control group, who received the preexisting sitz bath. To test the homogeneity between two groups before treatment, their general characteristics, perineal discomfort and postpartum depression were measured. Perineal discomfort and postpartum depression were checked to verify the experimental effect. To check the perineal discomfort and postpartum depression, visual analogue scale(VAS) and Edinburgh postpartum depression scale(EPDS) was used. Data were analyzed by x²-test, t-test using SPSS WIN 14.0 version. To make sure of internal consistency in the questionnaire, Cronbach's ⍺ was used. The subjects were homogeneous in general characteristics and perineal discomfort and postpartum depression before experiment. The perineal discomfort by VAS were significantly lower at postpartum third day(t=3.65, p=.001), fifth day(t=2.70, p=.010), seventh day(t=3.74, p=.001), fourteenth day(t=2.26, p=.029) in the experimental group. The postpartum depression by EPDS were significantly lower at postpartum seventh day (t=2.62, p=.012), forteenth day(t=3.44, p=.001) in the experimental group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that aromatherapy sitz bath using essential oils could be effective in lowering the on perineal discomfort and postpartum depression of postpartum mother.

ABSTRACT
  Ⅰ. 서론
  Ⅱ. 재료 및 방법
  Ⅲ. 결과
  Ⅳ. 고찰
  Ⅴ. 적요
  Ⅵ. 인용 및 참고문헌

• 허명행(을지대학교 간호대학) | Myung-Haeng Hur
• 김연숙(을지대학교 간호대학) | Youn-Suk Kim
• 안혜영(을지대학교 간호대학) | Hye-Young Ahn 교신저자