• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2010

Objectives: We investigated the clustering of selected lifestyle factors (cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, lack of physical exercise) and identified the population characteristics associated with increasing lifestyle risks. Methods: Data on lifestyle risk factors, sociodemographic characteristics, and history of chronic diseases were obtained from 7,694 individuals ${\geq}20$ years of age who participated in the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Clustering of lifestyle risks involved the observed prevalence of multiple risks and those expected from marginal exposure prevalence of the three selected risk factors. Prevalence odds ratio was adopted as a measurement of clustering. Multiple correspondence analysis, Kendall tau correlation, Man-Whitney analysis, and ordinal logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify variables increasing lifestyle risks. Results: In both men and women, increased lifestyle risks were associated with clustering of: (1) cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and (2) smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of physical exercise. Patterns of clustering for physical exercise were different from those for cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. The increased unhealthy clustering was found among men 20-64 years of age with mild or moderate stress, and among women 35-49 years of age who were never-married, with mild stress, and increased body mass index (>$30\;kg/m^2$). Conclusions: Addressing a lack of physical exercise considering individual characteristics including gender, age, employment activity, and stress levels should be a focus of health promotion efforts.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2003

Objectives : To assess the distribution of social support, and explore its effects on self-rated health status in a low income neighborhood of Seoul, Korea. Methods : In September 2001 we conducted a survey in a low income neighborhood of Seoul, Korea, in which 862 residents, aged 18 years or over, participated. We measured the general sociodemographic characteristics, self-rated health status and social support with the instrument developed from Korean translation of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support survey (MOS-SSS) scale of the US. Logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of social support, and explore its effects on self-rated health status. Results : Lower social class, women or divorced people had much less social support compared to higher social class, men or those never married, respectively. Those families on much lower income also received less social support. Social support has a positive impact on the self-rated health status, which remains statistically significant even when other relevant variables are adjusted. Conclusions : This study suggests that social support has an important role in health, and the socially disadvantaged have lower social support. Therefore, to improve the health status of the poor, it is necessary to encourage community participation, and develop strategies that could strengthen their provision of social support.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.490-498
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• 2020

Many international marriage immigrants experience a considerable amount of stress while adapting to a new culture they have never experienced before. This study examines the effects of marriage type and participation type in sport activity on marital health and marital life satisfaction. The 329 participants were divided into four groups based on marriage type and sport activity type. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to explore differences in marital health and marital life satisfaction among groups. Results revealed that regardless of cultural and linguistic differences, respondents who enjoyed sport activities with their spouses had relatively higher mean scores across four factors(marital bond, marital communication, marital value-sharing, and marital life satisfaction) than couples who did not. This study found sport activity participation positively impacted marital life, and results would provide insightful data to help people achieve a happier married life in multicultural society.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.655-660
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• 2016

Smoking is accountable for the fatality of a substantial number of persons and increases the likelihood of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Although data have shown high prevalence rates of cigarette smoking in Saudi Arabia, relatively little is known about the broader scope. The objectives of this study were to investigate socio-demographic factors, patterns of use and cessation behavior associated with smoking in Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study utilized a cross-sectional, multi-step design of sampling. Residents (N=1,497; aged 15 years and older) were recruited from seven administrative areas in Southwest Saudi Arabia. A pretested questionnaire was utilized to obtain data on participant cigarette smoking, including their daily use, age, education, income, marital status and employment status. The current study is the first of its kind to gather data cessation behavior of Saudi subjects. With the exception of 1.5% females, all the respondents were male. The majority of the respondents were married, had a university level of education, were employed, and were younger than 34 years old. The same trends were also observed among smokers' samples. The current prevalence of cigarette smoking was 49.2% and 65.7% of smokers had smoking at less than 18 years of age. The mean daily use amongst smokers was 7.98 cigarettes (SD=4.587). More than 50% of the study sample had tried at least once to quit smoking. However, 42% of the smokers participating had never. On the other hand, about 25% of the respondents were willing to consider quitting smoking in the future. Modeling of cigarette smoking suggested that the most significant independent predictors of smoking behavior were geographic area, gender, marital status, education, job and age. Considerable variation in smoking prevalence was noted related with participant sociodemographics. Findings recommend the necessity for control and intervention programs in Saudi community.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.625-630
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• 2016

Background: Despite the established role of the Pap smear test (PST) in prevention and early detection of cervical cancer, it is still rarely practiced in Sudan. Many challenges hinder the establishment of an effective cervical cancer screening program, including socio-cultural factors. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Sudanese women with regard to the Pap smear test and cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 500 married women aged 14 to 58 years were recruited from obstetric clinics, hospitals and universities in Khartoum in 2014. Data were collected using a standardized, pretested questionnaire that inquired socio-demographic characteristics and their KAP about cervical cancer and the PST. Results: More than 52% of participating women were above 30 years of age, and the majority (78.8%) were university degree holders. A total of 486 (97.2 %) of participants were resident in urban areas of Khartoum State. However about 48% of the respondents had never heard about PST, and only 15.8% of the participants had undergone a Pap smear test previously; 46.6% (233/500) knew that the human papilloma virus (HPV) was the causative agent, but only 39.2% (196/500) had heard about HPV vaccination, and only 11.4% (57/500) had received the vaccine. However 68% of the respondents agreed to do Pap smear if properly informed about the test and 75.4% of the respondents agreed to participate in a cervical cancer screening program. Conclusions: Despite a high educational level, less than half of our participants had accurate knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV, and cervical cancer screening. Health education about cervical cancer, HPV and sexually transmitted infections and the role of PST in cervical cancer prevention are crucial when designing interventions aimed at improving cervical cancer screening for Sudanese women.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.151-179
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• 2012

This study investigates birth cohort and educational differences in the marital and fertility life course using the Hernes model. First, lifetime marriage rates remain high across birth cohorts but men in the youngest birth cohort(1965-74) experience a somewhat significant reduction in ever-marriage rates. Second, this study also finds educational differences in lifetime marriage rates across birth cohorts. The likelihood of being never married is particularly high for poorly educated men in the youngest birth cohort but women show the opposite pattern. Third, quantum changes in the fertility transition are more likely to be the changes in higher-order births, while the changes in first and second births are mainly tempo changes. Fourth, the negative association between education and fertility is significantly larger for higher-order births. Finally, marriage and fertility show the opposite pattern in their association with education. Overall, educational differences in lifetime marriage rates become stronger across birth cohorts but the association between education and higher-order births shows the opposite pattern.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2008

Purpose: By focusing on immigrant women's problems and considering human rights, resettlement plans and marital-life adaptation, health status is often overlooked. It was examined in this study. Method: The participants were 110 immigrant women who lived in Busan. Data were collected from September to November 2007 using a questionnaire. Results: One of five of the women had been hospitalized for a delivery, about 25% were pregnant, and most (80.9 %) have never had a pap-smear test. The average score for anxiety was 3.0 (${\pm}2.50$) and for depression 2.9 (${\pm}2.71$). Most were in the normal range for blood pressure, body mass index(BMI), blood sugar and urine test. There was a significant difference in level of anxiety according to education (F=3.42, p=.020) and in level of depression according to age (F=4.05, p=.020), number of children(t=-.444, p=.009), financial status (F=3.75, p=.027) and satisfaction with life (F=6.38, p=.002). There were significant differences in BMI according to age (F=7.73, p=.001), native nation (F=18.38, p=.000), period of stay in Korea (F=3.11, p=.049), education (F=3.82, p=.012), number of children (t=-4.26, p=.040). Conclusion: Although the health status of the immigrant women was good, procreative care protocols should be developed to support immigrant women who are pregnant.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.575-585
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• 2009

This study was conducted to identify the job stress factors of school foodservice employees and to examine the relationship between job stress and turnover intention through path analysis. Data was collected using a survey of 432 school foodservice employees in elementary and secondary schools in Masan, Kyungsangnam-do. All of the participants were female, and 165(52.9%) were over the age of 45' Additionally, 310(99.4%) of the respondents were married, while 287(92.0%) had less than a high school level of education. Furthermore, 271(86.9%) of the respondents were cooks. Overall, 107(34.3%) of the respondents had worked in the food industry for less than $5{\sim}10$ years. In addition, 208 (66.7%) respondents answered that they had 'never' changed jobs. Among job characteristics that causes job stress, job posture was the primary stress factor, followed by heavy work load and job condition. Job stress was found to be significantly correlated with turnover intention. Additionally, job position was the only moderating variable that was found to be correlated with job characteristics and job stress. Finally, the moderating variables influencing the effects of job stress on turnover intention were identified as performance confidence, job career, and job position. The results of this study will be useful for future studies conducted to evaluate the development of job environments and performance to minimize turnover and job inefficiency as a result of job stress.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1627-1632
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• 2012

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia. Barriers for practicing breast self examination (BSE) await exploration. Objective: To assess the practice of BSE and its correlated factors and particularly barriers amongst urban women in Malaysia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 222 Malaysian women using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The mean (SD) age was 28.5 (${\pm}9.2$) years, 59.0% were university graduates. Of the total, 81.1% were aware of breast cancer and 55% practiced BSE. Amongst 45% of respondents who did not practice BSE, 79.8% did not know how to do it, 60.6% feared being diagnosed with breast cancer, 59.6% were worried about detecting breast cancer, 22% reported that they should not touch their bodies, 44% and 28% reported BSE is embarrassing or unpleasant, 29% time consuming, 22% thought they would never have breast cancer or it is ineffective and finally 20% perceived BSE as unimportant. Logistic regression modeling showed that respondents aged ${\geq}45$ years, being Malay, married and having a high education level were more likely to practice BSE (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study sample, a significant proportion of respondents was aware of breast cancer but did not practice BSE. Knowledge, psychological, cultural, perception and environmental factors were identified as barriers. BSE practice was associated significantly with socio-demographic factors and socioeconomic status.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2014

Background: This paper describes the relationship and effect of health examination on personal medical cost by identifying the difference of the cost for medical care in physician visit between the population without and with health examination. Methods: After classifying into three cohorts in which, independent variables were designed according to the Andersen's behavioral model, the association of personal medical cost for medical care and prescription drugs which is dependent variable was analyzed by t-test and Mann-Whitney test for description and gamma regression model for inference. Results: In personal average medical cost, the population with health examination paid significantly more than without health examination, 11.6% more in cohort 2008, 26.6% more in cohort 2009, and 48.0% more in combined cohort. The odds ratio on medical expenditure of outpatients with health examination was 1.067, 1.126, 1.398 significantly in cohort 2008, 2009, and combined cohort respectively, comparing to the group without health examination. In independent variables, that is female, the elderly, never married, non-working, non-metropolitan, the higher family income, the smaller family size, people with disability, the people with chronic disease, and people with health examination have significantly being paid more tendency showing positive association with medical cost. Conclusion: This result showed that medical expenditure in physician visit has been increased after taking a health examination. Therefore reasonable limitation of getting preventive medical service is suggested to avoid medical shopping around and reduce being repeated health examination by unifying control to find out easily the clinical results from various medical facilities.