• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
• /
• v.65
• /
• pp.55-80
• /
• 2021

This study attempted to find a Christian religious alternative to the seriousness of the problem of low birth rate which has become a national and social problem, and its alternative. Korea is a low birth rate country. The phenomenon of low birth rate and childbirth avoidance is a reality that not only are national problems but also Korean churches are experiencing serious problems, and will continue to affect them. It will affect the church in four major ways. First, is a sharp decline in the number of members. Second, is the decline of Sunday schools. Third, various family problems and generational conflicts will arise. And it brings problems such as a crisis of faith among members. Young people living today have an unconventional attitude toward marriage, childbirth, and parenting. But for Christians, childbirth is a way of living in that God blessed us to "be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth." In other words, childbirth must be recognized as a blessing from God, not a human decision. Therefore, we must know how precious the fetus is in front of God and that it is a precious life. Thus, we should be interested in how to nurture the life God has given. To do so the church's role is education is to shape the value of life from a biblical perspective. Therefore the church needs to see how the Christian faith of young and married couples who are about to marry, give birth, and raise children, affects the childbirth and rearing of children. And it is necessary to study what the role of church and Christian education is to solve the problem of low birth rate and to suggest alternatives. For this study, we will first identify the factors of low birth rate. Then we will confirm childbirth and the blessing of God through the Bible. Finally, the role of the church in low birth rate and educational alternatives will be presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
• /
• 2021.05a
• /
• pp.496-498
• /
• 2021

In Korea, based on the high fertility rate before 1980, the total population has been steadily increasing, and since the mid-1980s, the fertility rate has fallen sharply and has fallen below the level of population replacement. The cause of low birth rate in the region is not voluntary rejection, but rather, it is necessary to find out the cause by identifying the structural causes of the local community from various angles. We collected local Internet news and local representative cafe data, where many mothers participate, based on the budget area with a very low fertility rate among various areas. Factors of childbirth inhibition were analyzed by using the frequency of concurrent words that became issues related to population decline, low birthrate, and child-rearing welfare.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.137-145
• /
• 2014

The objective of this study was to analyze the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) in extramarital birth by analyzing 2008-2012 birth certificated data (2,328,719 births) from Korea Statistics. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated from logistic regression analyses to describe the associations between PTB & LBW and extramarital birth adjusted for maternal age, maternal occupation & education, infantile sex, birth order and number of child birth (singleton & multiple birth). The rate of extramarital birth was 1.8 percent and 2.1 percent in 2010-11. The incidence of LBW was 8.1 percent in extramarital birth and 5.0 percent in marital birth. The incidence of PTB in extramarital birth were 8.2 percent and 5.8 percent in marital birth. Compared with marital birth, the odds ratio (OR) for PTB were 1.48 (95% CI: 1.43-1.54) for extramarital birth. Risk of LBW was higher in extramarital birth (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.64-1.76) than that of marital birth. Among mothers younger than 20 years, the odds ratio of PTB among extramarital birth, relative to married birth was 1.69 (1.49-1.91). Among unmarried mothers, those at a higher risk of LBW was aged 20-29 years (1.69: 1.59-1.79). Maternal unmarried status was associated with increased risk of PTB and LBW.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.185-195
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) on the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in couples with unexplained infertility. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 145 couples who underwent ICSI cycles for unexplained infertility. Based on the SDF rate, patients were categorized into a low SDF group (SDF ≤30%, n=97) and a high SDF group (SDF >30%, n=48). SDF was assessed using the acridine orange test on density gradient centrifugation prepared samples. The CLBR was calculated as the first live birth event per woman per egg collection over 2 years. Results: The high SDF group (SDF >30%) showed a significantly lower CLBR (p<0.05) and a significantly higher miscarriage rate (p<0.05) than the low SDF group (SDF ≤30%). No significant difference was observed in the implantation and cumulative pregnancy rates between the two SDF groups. The total number of embryo transfers was stratified further into fresh and frozen embryo transfers. In the fresh embryo transfers, there were significant differences in the implantation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, and live birth rates (p<0.05) between the low SDF and high SDF groups. However, in the frozen embryo transfers, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, SDF was a predictor of CLBR (p<0.05) when adjusted for possible confounding factors. Conclusion: High SDF was associated with a lower CLBR and a higher miscarriage rate in the ICSI cycles of couples with unexplained infertility.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study measured the impact of shifts in maternal age and parity on the increase in the low birth weight (LBW) rate in Korea. Methods: We obtained raw data for all 6 397 945 live births registered at the Korea National Statistical Office between 1995 and 2005. We calculated the proportion of increment in the LBW rate due to changes in the distribution of maternal age and parity (AP-dis) and the proportion due to changes in the age- and parity-specific LBW rate (AP-spe). Results: The LBW rate increased from 3.02% in 1995 to 4.28% in 2005. The multiple birth rate increased from 1.32% to 2.19% during the same period. Of the 1.26% points increment in the LBW rate, 0.64% points occurred among singleton births and 0.62% points occurred among multiple births. Changes in the AP-dis accounted for 50% of the increase in the LBW rate among singleton births, but did not contribute to the increase in the LBW rate among multiple births. The remainder of the total increment in the LBW rate was explained by the increase in the AP-spe. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that shifts in maternal age and parity among singleton births and increased multiple births were important contributors to the increment in the LBW rate. This study also revealed that the increase in the AP-spe was an equally important contributor as the shifts in maternal age and parity to the increment in the LBW rate among singleton births and was a major contributor among multiple births.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.5-13
• /
• 2004

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation of gestational age and birth weight with weight gain of very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) during their hospital stay. Method: This is a 5 year retrospective study of which data were collected through review of medical records. Subjects were 124 VLBW infants with a birth weight more than 1000g and less than 1500g who received neonatal intensive care at the university hospital between January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2001. Result: After calculating the z scores of birth weights and discharge weights, z scores of discharge weight and birth weight were compared with the median weight of a fetus of comparable gestational age based on an intrauterine growth reference. There was a significant difference between z scores of birth weight and discharge weight(t=11.60, df=122, p=0.000). Regardless of intensive care during the prolonged hospital stay, VLBW infants showed slow growth rate compared with the median weight of a fetus of comparable gestational age. Conclusion: VLBW infants developed a poor velocity of weight gain during the prolonged hospital stay after birth. The development worsened during the period of physiological weight loss and regain, and they did not reach to comparable growth rate of normal fetus even at the time of discharge. This poor growth velocity of VLBW infants influence negatively for their future growth. Therefore nureses who work at the neonatal intensive care unit must develop an effective nursing intervention protocol to promote the velocity of weight gain and to conduct the parental educational sessions to emphasize the importance of weight gain for VLBW infants at home.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.5-8
• /
• 1999

Weight records from birth to calving and calving scores of 407 two-year old heifers and weights of their offspring from birth to one year of age were used to study the effects of sire birth weight on maternal traits of their female progeny. The heifers ($G_1$) were Ihe progeny of 81 sires ($G_0$) and were classified into three classes based on their sires' birth weights (High, Medium and Low). The heifers were from three distinct breed-groups and were mated to bulls with medium birth weights within each breed-group to produce the second generation ($G_2$). The data were analyzed using a covariance model. The female progeny of high birth-weight sires were heavier from birth to calving than those sired by medium and low birth-weight bulls. The effect of sire birth weight on calving difficulty scores of their female progeny was not significant. Grand progeny (G2) of low birth-weight sires were lighter at birth than those from high birth-weight sires (p < 0.05) but they did not differ significantly in weaning and yearling weights from the other two Grand progeny groups. The results indicated that using low birth weight sires would not result in an increase in the incidence of dystocia among their female progeny calving at two-year of age and would not have an adverse effect On weaning and yearling weights of their grand progeny.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.127-144
• /
• 2013

The low birth rate in Korea reflects the declining desire to have children in this country due to rising emphasis on personal lifestyle. Since this phenomenon has accelerated, boosting the birth rate has become one of the most important policy tasks in Korea. The purpose of this research was to perform a case study based on women's lived experience to understand how the childbirth encouragement policy promoted by the government in order to boost the birth rate has affected the perception of childbirth among women. The findings are as follows : First, the effect of the childbirth encouragement policy on women's perceptions has been fairly low. Second, the social environment for encouraging childbirth is inadequate. Third, the economic burdens associated with childbirth and child care are still significant. Finally, the impact of the childbirth encouragement policy on changes in the perceptions of childbirth has been minimal. Based on these findings, various motivations for changes in the perceptions of childbirth among women were identified, leading to the following conclusion: Establishing a long-term childbirth encouragement policy is an effective way to boost the childbirth rate.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.20 no.2 s.22
• /
• pp.322-330
• /
• 1987

The objectives of this study were to examine the changes of birth weight and relationship of birth weight with maternal age and parity. The study population included 13,634 single live births out of 14,346 births delivered at a general hospital in Busan between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1956. Data were obtained from the delivery record. In 1979 the mean birth weight of male was 3,074 gm and that of female was 2,985 gm. In 1986 birth weight of male was increased to 3,266 gm and that of female to 3,210 gm. Low birth weight ($\leq$2,500 gm) incidence rate was 7.2% in 1977 and it was increased gradually to 10.4% in 1980 but decreased thereafter to 6.5% in 1986. Incidence rate of overweight infant (4,001 gm $\leq$) was 3.9% for 10 years and it ranged from 2.9% to 4.6% but no particular changing pattern was observed. The percentage of mothers who had history of induced abortion was decreased from 51.6% in 1979 to 45.1% in 1986. Also, stillbirth rate was decreased from 2.6% in 1977 to 1.5% in 1986. The proportion of the first and second births was increased from 55.4% in 1977 to 96.0% in 1986 and the proportion of mothers of 25-34 years increased from 72.1% in 1977 to 84.7% in 1986. The incidence rates of low birth weight and over weight infant are lower in the first and second births of 25-34 years old mothers than other parities and age groups. Increased mean birth weight and decreased low birht weight incidence rate indicate that the health status of newborn infants has been improved and substantial portion of these changes can be attributed to increase in family planning practice rate and delayed marriage. There is no evidence, however, for increasing incidence rate of overweight infant.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.92-103
• /
• 2020

This study agrees with the seriousness of the low birth phenomenon in our country and discusses the analysis of the causes of low birth and the establishment of the policy measures for early childhood education and child care in relation to the low birth phenomenon. In particular, the purpose of the policy is to establish a policy plan for up-to-down early childhood education and child care that can be reflected in the policy by members related to early childhood education, breaking away from the existing one for top-down child education and child care. To this end, the research was conducted using Delphi technique and 20 experts in the field of early childhood education and child care were organized into expert panels. In this study, seven policies were proposed for opportunity compliance, eleven policies for service compliance, eight policies for compliance with goods/gift certificates/tax reduction, seven policies for compliance with cash benefits, and five policies for compliance with power. We hope that the bottom-up education and childcare policy measures proposed in this study will provide specific implications and suggestions for resolving the low birth rate.