• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.367-380
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• 2016

This study reviewed and compared methods for mapping aggregated low birth weight (LBW) and geographic variations in LBW in South Korea. Based on this review, we produced LBW maps in South Korea. Standardized mortality/morbidity ratios (SMRs) and crude mortality rates have been widely used for many years in epidemiological research. However, SMR-based maps are likely to be affected by sample size of unit area. Therefore, this study adopted a model-based approach using Bayesian estimates to reduce noisy variability in the SMR. By using a Bayesian model, we can calculate a statistically reliable RR values. We used the full Bayes estimator, as well as empirical Bayes estimators. As a result, variations in the two Bayes models were similar. The SMR-based statistics had the largest variation. The result maps can be used to identify regions with a high risk of LBW in South Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.333-342
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• 1999

Objectives: Most descriptive studies of cancer have focused either or cancer incidence or mortality. Cancer prevalence has rarely been estimated. Cancer prevalence data can be used as a measure of the economic and social burden of cancer and are also useful for health care planning. This study attempts to estimate cancer prevalence in Kangwha county. Methods: This investigation is based on data of Kangwha cancer registry. The data include all cases of cancer diagnosed from 1983 through 1992. We define 'prevalent cases' as cancer patients who is alive as of January 1, 1993. For each five-year age group, the number of 'known prevalent cases' is added to the number of 'estimated prevalent cases'. Prevalence is calculated by dividing these sums by the populations of Kangwha County on December 31, 1992(derived from Kangwha Statistics Annual). Results: Crude prevalence of cancel among males and females are 536.7 and 601.1 per 100,000 respectively. Gastric cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm(213.2 per 100,000, crude prevalence) among males. It is followed by lung cancer(45.1 per 100,000), liver cancer(32.8 per 100,000), rectal cancer(25.4 per 100,000) and colon cancer(25.4 per 100,000). Cervical cancer is the most common cancer(201.9 per 100,000, crude prevalence) and is fellowed by gastric cancer(91.5 per 100,000), thyroid cancer(64.8 per 100,000), breast cancer(57.2 per 100,000) and rectal cancer(32.7 per 100,000) among females. Conclusions: We tried to estimate cancer prevalence based on the Kangwha cancer registry for the first time in Korea. The estimation of cancer prevalence based on a population-based cancer registry will be more correct and useful as the data accumulate. We will make another estimation in the near future.