• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2011

This article addresses potential barriers to sustained employment for rural low-income mothers. Drawing from a two panel longitudinal sample of 240 families from the Rural Families Speak project, it examines the extent to which human capital and family factors were related to these mothers' ability to be employed. Comparisons are made between mothers, who over a three-year period, were continuously unemployed, intermittently employed, or stably employed. Many of these rural low-income mothers faced multiple individual and family barriers that impacted their labor force participation. Notably food insecurity, mental health, caring for a young child, housing, and a family history of welfare were associated with less stable employment. The implications for public policy and service delivery are discussed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2011

Women's nutrition has received little attention in nutrition programming, even though clinical trials and intervention trials have suggested that dietary improvement or supplementation with several nutrients may improve their health, especially in low-income settings, the main focus of this paper. Most attention so far has focused on how improvements in maternal nutrition can improve health outcomes for infants and young children. Adequate vitamin D and calcium nutrition throughout life may reduce the risk of osteoporosis, and calcium supplementation during pregnancy may reduce preeclampsia and low birth weight. To reduce neural tube defects, additional folic acid and possibly vitamin $B_{12}$ need to be provided to non-deficient women before they know they are pregnant. This is best achieved by fortifying a staple food. It is unclear whether maternal vitamin A supplementation will lead to improved health outcomes for mother or child. Iron, iodine and zinc supplementation are widely needed for deficient women. Multimicronutrient supplementation (MMS) in place of the more common iron-folate supplements given in pregnancy in low-income countries may slightly increase birth weight, but its impact on neonatal mortality and other outcomes is unclear. More sustainable alternative approaches deserve greater research attention.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 2019

This study examined the possible causes of nutritional inadequacy in Vietnamese immigrant women married to Korean husbands. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 34 Vietnamese marriage immigrant women and 17 Korean spouses participating in or having experienced Nutrition Plus from four Community Health Centers in Seoul, Korea. The study results showed that the nutritional staus of the Vietnamese marriage immigrant women was affected by the unfamiliar Korean food (cultural factor), low household income (economical factor), difficulty in purchasing Vietnamese food (environmental factor), and low accessibility to nutrition support systems (social factor). The Korean husbands' nutritional status was affected by the unfamiliar Vietnamese food (cultural factor), low household income (economic factor), and irregular working conditions (social factors). Nutritional interventions as a public service to the community needs to be developed and applied. Suggestions are presented regarding the future efforts to better understand and meet the nutrition needs of intermarried couples to respond to their heterogeneous needs and deliver adequate nutrition service to ever increasing intermarried families.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.372-383
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current state and trends of factors influencing the quality of life in low- income elders living at home. Methods: To carry out this study we established the patient, intervention, comparison, outcomes (PICO) strategy, reviewed 241 published documents from both national and international electronic databases, and finally selected 9 references based on inclusion and exclusion criteria alone. The quality of selected references was assessed using 15 questions. Two reviewers independently examined titles and abstracts and assessed whether each met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The following factors were significantly associated with quality of life in low- income elders: (1) demographic factors such as number of children, income, and age; (2) health - related factors such as joint exercise capacity, activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living, health perception, health promotion behavior, and depression; and (3) socio environmental factors such as family support, community-based service program, leisure activity, and the number of neighborhoods involved. Conclusion: The results of our study provide a definite basis for the development of a policy strategy to improve the quality of life in elders with low income and we hence strongly recommend that any strategy to improve the quality of life in low-income elders be based on the results of our study.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Folic acid supplementation before pregnancy is known to significantly reduce the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects (NTDs). Therefore, it is important for women to be aware of the effects of folic acid supplementation before pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness and preconceptional use of folic acid and to assess the current knowledge about folic acid among low-income pregnant women in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2012. Five hundred pregnant women were selected from the waiting list for the Nutriplus program implemented in public health centers using a multistage clustered probability sampling design. Data from 439 women were analyzed after excluding ones with incomplete answers. RESULTS: Among women who responded to the questionnaire, 65.6% had heard of folic acid before pregnancy, and 26.4% reported on the preconceptional use of folic acid. Women with a university degree or higher education were more likely to be aware of folic acid and to take folic acid in the preconception period. In a multivariate logistic regression, when age, education level, household income, employment status, gravidity, parity, and folic acid awareness were included in the model, folic acid awareness was a strong predictor of preconceptional folic acid use. As of interview, 85.4% and 77.7% of women were aware of the NTD-preventive role of folic acid and the appropriate time to take folic acid, respectively. The main sources of information on folic acid were healthcare professionals (41.2%), friends and family members (31.2%), and the media (26.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that public health strategies are needed to increase the preconceptional use of folic acid among Korean women.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.85-95
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to empirically verify the influence of certain variables on the psychological well-being of married men and women and to provide a basis for promoting the quality of life. The subjects of this study were 366 married men and women in Busan. The data was obtained through administering a self-reported questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS/WIN 10.0 and included frequencies, means, standard deviation, Chronbach'a, $$\chi$^2$, t-test, and regression analysis. The major results of this study were as follows: First, the scores for degree of income propriety, fate control orientation and material orientation of married men was higher than those of married women. The scores for degree of stress recognition and perceived equity showed no significant difference between men and women. The score for psychological well-being of married men and women was relatively low. The score of psychological well-being of married women(2.94) was higher than that of married men(2.67). Second, variables that affect the psychological well-being of married men were degree of income propriety(p>.001), degree of perceived stress(p>.001), fate control orientation(p>.001) and material orientation(p>.001). Variables that affect psychological well-being of married women were degree of income propriety(p>.001), degree of perceived stress (p>.001), fate control orientation(p>.001) and perceived equity(p>.01). The variable of perceived equity didn't affect psychological well-being of married men. The variable of material orientation didn't affect the psychological well-being of married women. Third, the influence level of the degree of income propriety of married men and women was the highest among the variables.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2009

This study is to examine unmarried women's preferences about wedding dresses. This is researched with a survey of 300 unmarried women in Ulsan and Seoul. The survey inquires their preferences of silhouettes, necklines, materials, and details in wedding dress. 290 valid questionnaires are analyzed statistically. Statistical analysis is used average, frequency, and crosstabs with SPSS10.0. The results of this study are as below; As for an income level, the high-income brackets in Ulsan preferred X silhouette, whereas in Seoul H silhouette. The low-income brackets in both areas preferred X silhouette. In necklines, boat neckline was preferred in both areas regardless of incomes. In materials, in Ulsan, the high-income brackets preferred silk, but the low-income brackets in Ulsan preferred satin. In Seoul, silk was preferred regardless of incomes. In details, the high-income brackets in both areas preferred beads and ribbon. In the low-income brackets, embroidery decorations were preferred in Ulsan, whereas beads, jewels and ribbons in Seoul. As for personalities, X silhouette was preferred in most personalities, A silhouette in some personalities in Seoul. In necklines, boat neckline is preferred in most personalities. In materials, silk was preferred in most personalities. In details, beads and jewels were preferred in most personalities. As for ages, in most ages, X silhouette was preferred in Ulsan, and X and A silhouettes in Seoul. In necklines, in most ages, boat neckline was preferred in both areas. In materials, silk was preferred in most ages. In details, beads and jewels were preferred in most ages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.57 no.5 s.114
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• pp.99-111
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• 2007

The purpose of this study were to identity face satisfaction and make-up behavior according to their lifestyles of middle aged women. The subjects were 350 women of 40 - 59 years old. The results of this study were as follow: 1. Lifestyle factors of middle aged women were self confidence, leisure activities, interests in appearance, economical efficiency, conservatism, and value-orientation. They were classified into four types of dignified & appearance interested group, passive stagnated group, unconfident & economic group, and value-oriented & leisure group according to their lifestyles. 2. They were satisfied with their eyes, lips, and eyebrows, but not satisfied with face tone, face shape, and skin texture. Total face satisfaction level was over average. The face satisfaction level of dignified & appearance interested group and value-oriented & leisure group were higher than other groups, but that of passive stagnated group was the lowest. 3. They pursued internal beauty and natural makeup, and did not follow trendy colors. Dignified & appearance interested group pursued characteristic, elegant, changeable, and various make-up colors, but value-oriented & leisure group pursued more various, changeable, and trendy colors. They did not prefer trendy products because of high price. Dignified & appearance interested group and unconfident & economic group were highly price-oriented, but value-oriented & leisure group purchased trendy products. 4. Dignified & appearance interested group included working women with not much income, but passive stagnated group included low-educated and non-working women. Unconfident & economic group included low-educated non-working women with not much income, but value-oriented & leisure group included highly-educated working women with high income.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.101-125
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• 2014

This paper aims to examine the effects of increase in childcare subsidy on time allocation of women, particularly low- and moderate-income women with pre-school children. For the purpose, the study adopts seemingly unrelated tobit and analyses data from the 2004 and 2009 Time Use Survey Data of the National Statistical Office. First of all, the results reveal that the policy changes in childcare subsidy affect time allocation of low- and moderate-income women with pre-school children, which increases paid-work whereas decreases caregiving and housework in a daily life. The results show that the changes take place in accordance with the goals of childcare subsidy promoting women's employment and reducing women's burden of caregiving. Yet the study has a couple of limitations- the only marginally significant impact in several variables, little effect on time allocation of all women- for the generalization of the findings. Nevertheless, the results indicate that employment policies for women, particularly for mothers, and the provision of childcare services should be improved to maximize the positive effects of increase in childcare subsidy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.352-359
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the geographic distribution of diabetes mortality in Japan and identify socioeconomic factors affecting differences in municipality-specific diabetes mortality. Methods: Diabetes mortality data by year and municipality from 2013 to 2017 were extracted from Japanese Vital Statistics, and the socioeconomic characteristics of municipalities were obtained from government statistics. We calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of diabetes for each municipality using the empirical Bayes method and represented geographic differences in SMRs in a map of Japan. Multiple linear regression was conducted to identify the socioeconomic factors affecting differences in SMR. Statistically significant socioeconomic factors were further assessed by calculating the relative risk of mortality of quintiles of municipalities classified according to the degree of each socioeconomic factor using Poisson regression analysis. Results: The geographic distribution of diabetes mortality differed by gender. Of the municipality-specific socioeconomic factors, high rates of single-person households and unemployment and a high number of hospital beds were associated with a high SMR for men. High rates of fatherless households and blue-collar workers were associated with a high SMR for women, while high taxable income per-capita income and total population were associated with low SMR for women. Quintile analysis revealed a complex relationship between taxable income and mortality for women. The mortality risk of quintiles with the highest and lowest taxable per-capita income was significantly lower than that of the middle-income quintile. Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors of municipalities in Japan were found to affect geographic differences in diabetes mortality.